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Celeste Rossan #1
The Misadventures of an Amateur Naturalist: Celeste Rossan, Book 1
Aspiring young naturalist Celeste Rossan is determined to live a life of adventure and scientific discovery. But when her father loses everything, Celeste’s hopes of ever leaving her hometown are dashed…until she sees a narrow opportunity to escape to Paris and attend the 1867 Exposition Universelle.
Celeste seizes her chance, but the elements overwhelm her before she can make it five miles. In desperation, she seeks refuge in an abandoned chateau, only to find herself trapped inside the den of an unknown a predator with an intelligence that rivals any human.
It’s the discovery of a lifetime. Or it will be, if Celeste can earn the beast’s trust without losing her nerve - or her heart - to her in the process.
The Misadventures of an Amateur Naturalist is a queer historical fantasy for adventurers of all ages.
For additional information about this title, please check the author's website.
Celeste seizes her chance, but the elements overwhelm her before she can make it five miles. In desperation, she seeks refuge in an abandoned chateau, only to find herself trapped inside the den of an unknown a predator with an intelligence that rivals any human.
It’s the discovery of a lifetime. Or it will be, if Celeste can earn the beast’s trust without losing her nerve - or her heart - to her in the process.
The Misadventures of an Amateur Naturalist is a queer historical fantasy for adventurers of all ages.
For additional information about this title, please check the author's website.
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First published September 1, 2021
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August 27, 2021
Sapphic Beauty and the Beast! When I saw the cover and title for this book I knew I had to read it. We aren’t supposed to judge or pick a book by its cover, but sometimes you just have to. I was completely sold already but then I realized that this was also a Beauty and the Beast retelling; I felt like I stuck gold. I’m such a sucker for retellings and B&B (the Disney version) which came out when I was a kid, holds a special place in my heart since it reminds me of my mother who loved it dearly. I’m happy to say that this held up under my pretty high expectations and I thought this was a good historical-fiction retelling of B&B.
This is actually my second sapphic B&B retelling that I have read in the last couple of years. Thorn by Anna Burke was really good and one I would easily recommend. I did like Thorn a bit more than this book, but they were quite different. This book is not as fantastical or as dark as Thorn. Don’t get me wrong, this book is not a fluffy retelling and it definitely has some grit, but this also has a very historical-fiction feel to it.
This book really has two parts. Part one is all about Celeste wanting to pursue her dreams of becoming a biologist, and her relationships with her friends and family. I do have to make clear that the first half has a slower pace. Think classic Victorian times historical-fiction novel that is about Celeste and her family and what they are going through. If you know B&B, you will know certain things that are going to happen. However, I still had to laugh at myself because the book takes a turn I did not see coming, yet I totally should have. I think it shows how much I was into the story and Langley’s writing.
Part two is all about Celeste at the manor/castle and her time with the beast. While I enjoyed the whole book, this really is the part that we all are waiting to read about. Watching Celeste’s journey with the beast, how her emotions change from terror to friendship and maybe beyond, was well done and enjoyable to read. The romance was slow, sweet and a bit on the lighter side, but remember this is beauty and the best which means an actual beast, so the romance fits in just right for what the story is.
One disappointment for me, and an issue I think some people will have, is that we don’t even meet the beast until the second half of the book. This is a slower moving book that needs some patience by the reader. I enjoyed the slower first half that doesn’t include the beast, but what bothered me is that we just don’t get enough time with them together. On the good side, and in hearing this bumped my review up to a full 4 stars, is that there is probably going to be a sequel. Once you take that into account, the slower beginning makes much more sense. Langley, really took the time to build this world up and as a reader I absolutely want more. The main story feels complete, but there are these little balls still left in the air that Langley could take and just run with for the sequel. Plus, the relationship between the mains is just beginning and I want to go on the journey of their possible love story.
Overall, this is a very enjoyable sapphic Beauty and the Beast retelling. I was hooked from the beginning and even during the slower parts I just wanted to keep reading. Langley, writes well and this retelling feels like it does justice to the original while adding its own unique spin to it. This is a good book on its own, but if it is the start of a series like it appears to be, than I actually like it even more. I would easily recommend this to fans of retellings and historical-fiction books, as long as you don’t mind a book with a slower pace in parts. I can’t wait for book two!
An ARC was given to me for a review.
This is actually my second sapphic B&B retelling that I have read in the last couple of years. Thorn by Anna Burke was really good and one I would easily recommend. I did like Thorn a bit more than this book, but they were quite different. This book is not as fantastical or as dark as Thorn. Don’t get me wrong, this book is not a fluffy retelling and it definitely has some grit, but this also has a very historical-fiction feel to it.
This book really has two parts. Part one is all about Celeste wanting to pursue her dreams of becoming a biologist, and her relationships with her friends and family. I do have to make clear that the first half has a slower pace. Think classic Victorian times historical-fiction novel that is about Celeste and her family and what they are going through. If you know B&B, you will know certain things that are going to happen. However, I still had to laugh at myself because the book takes a turn I did not see coming, yet I totally should have. I think it shows how much I was into the story and Langley’s writing.
Part two is all about Celeste at the manor/castle and her time with the beast. While I enjoyed the whole book, this really is the part that we all are waiting to read about. Watching Celeste’s journey with the beast, how her emotions change from terror to friendship and maybe beyond, was well done and enjoyable to read. The romance was slow, sweet and a bit on the lighter side, but remember this is beauty and the best which means an actual beast, so the romance fits in just right for what the story is.
One disappointment for me, and an issue I think some people will have, is that we don’t even meet the beast until the second half of the book. This is a slower moving book that needs some patience by the reader. I enjoyed the slower first half that doesn’t include the beast, but what bothered me is that we just don’t get enough time with them together. On the good side, and in hearing this bumped my review up to a full 4 stars, is that there is probably going to be a sequel. Once you take that into account, the slower beginning makes much more sense. Langley, really took the time to build this world up and as a reader I absolutely want more. The main story feels complete, but there are these little balls still left in the air that Langley could take and just run with for the sequel. Plus, the relationship between the mains is just beginning and I want to go on the journey of their possible love story.
Overall, this is a very enjoyable sapphic Beauty and the Beast retelling. I was hooked from the beginning and even during the slower parts I just wanted to keep reading. Langley, writes well and this retelling feels like it does justice to the original while adding its own unique spin to it. This is a good book on its own, but if it is the start of a series like it appears to be, than I actually like it even more. I would easily recommend this to fans of retellings and historical-fiction books, as long as you don’t mind a book with a slower pace in parts. I can’t wait for book two!
An ARC was given to me for a review.
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June 17, 2021Retelling of beauty and the beast but make it Sapphic??
*hyperventilating*
*hyperventilating*
July 22, 2021
Celeste Rossan is an aspiring amateur naturalist, but when her father goes bankrupt, her dreams seem ever farther away. Her only recourse is to try and track a mysterious beast in the woods.
Firstly, the cover is beautiful. The writing is just as lovely. This is a sapphic retelling of Beauty and the Beast that puts enough enough of a spin on the familiar story that I was well-entertained. The heroine Celeste is endearing, and even minor characters are extremely well-drawn. The 'villain' is three-dimensional.
There was also a certain grittiness to the story that I really enjoyed, especially in the section set in the beast's house. It helps blend historical realism with the more fantastical elements. That grittiness also means that plot threads go untied, elements remain tragic and unfixable, and realism prevails.
My only complaint is that it takes us a rather long time to actually meet the beast. Still, an excellent read that I highly recommend.
Disclaimer: I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley. This is my honest and voluntary review.
Firstly, the cover is beautiful. The writing is just as lovely. This is a sapphic retelling of Beauty and the Beast that puts enough enough of a spin on the familiar story that I was well-entertained. The heroine Celeste is endearing, and even minor characters are extremely well-drawn. The 'villain' is three-dimensional.
There was also a certain grittiness to the story that I really enjoyed, especially in the section set in the beast's house. It helps blend historical realism with the more fantastical elements. That grittiness also means that plot threads go untied, elements remain tragic and unfixable, and realism prevails.
My only complaint is that it takes us a rather long time to actually meet the beast. Still, an excellent read that I highly recommend.
Disclaimer: I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley. This is my honest and voluntary review.
October 6, 2021
Thank you to NetGalley and the author for a complimentary ARC in exchange for a review. This did not affect my rating in any way.
Celeste Rossan is a naturalist—at least, an amateur one, aspiring to be the real thing. However, that dream becomes out-of-reach when her father loses all of his money and she’s pressured into a marriage she never wanted. She runs away, only to find a unique beast in the forest, who, over time, she learns isn’t as bad as she initially thought.
This had a GREAT backstory which really helped me get into Celeste’s mind and her situation. I loved the writing style, too! If you love retellings and slowburn sapphic novels, look no further!
Celeste Rossan is a naturalist—at least, an amateur one, aspiring to be the real thing. However, that dream becomes out-of-reach when her father loses all of his money and she’s pressured into a marriage she never wanted. She runs away, only to find a unique beast in the forest, who, over time, she learns isn’t as bad as she initially thought.
This had a GREAT backstory which really helped me get into Celeste’s mind and her situation. I loved the writing style, too! If you love retellings and slowburn sapphic novels, look no further!
September 1, 2022
4 stars.
The Misadventures of an Amateur Naturalist is a unique, queer retelling of Beauty and the Beast. Going into it, I was a little worried that it wasn't going to be very original, as Beauty and the Beast is perhaps the most commonly retold fairytale, but this book changed enough details from the original text to make this a new and exciting story. All the changes in this book were welcome, and the characters were quite well written as well. On the topic of characters, I will say that I wasn't initially sure how to feel about Etienne, as unlike his Disney counterpart, Gaston, he's very sympathizable. Although I liked how 3 dimensional a character he was, I found it to be a bit of an issue when Celeste left home. Obviously, I understand that she did not love him romantically, and therefore didn't want to marry him, but considering it was her best option and benefitted her family, it made her running away seem a bit rash. But then she left home and flourished, as expected, so I understand her decision. Again, without mentioning any major spoilers, I was a little confused about how to feel about Etienne at the end of the book. He was still a well rounded character I felt bad for, but he also felt like the closest thing to a villain this book had (not because he was evil, just because his goals stood in the way of Celeste's). Luckily, I found that during the confrontation he didn't stray too far from the character he had been established as and I liked the way this book concluded. Even though there were a few moments were I wasn't sure how to feel about Etienne, I'd much rather read a book with 3 dimensional characters that occasionally gets confusing (as to who you should mainly be sympathizing with) than a book with flat characters who oppose the protagonist. On to my thoughts about the romance. To put it simply, I was really impressed by it. This book does start kind of slow, and since the love interests did not interact until about the 50% mark, I was worried the romance was going to be rushed, but it wasn't. Celeste and "the Beast's" conversations felt genuine and you could sense the connection they had as people. Their relationship was really strongly written, and as a whole I really liked this author's writing style. Onto my last note, which is minor, but I think worthy of mentioning. I appreciate that the author acknowledged at the start of the book that the land this was written on is Aboriginal land. This is something people are starting to acknowledge more and more as of late, but I'd never seen an author mention it in a book's acknowledgments, so I was impressed to see this. Overall, this was a really enjoyable and dynamic Beauty and the Beast retelling that I'd recommend to any YA fantasy readers.
Side note, I'm not normally one for pet names, but for whatever reason "little finch" has me in an absolute CHOKEHOLD
The Misadventures of an Amateur Naturalist is a unique, queer retelling of Beauty and the Beast. Going into it, I was a little worried that it wasn't going to be very original, as Beauty and the Beast is perhaps the most commonly retold fairytale, but this book changed enough details from the original text to make this a new and exciting story. All the changes in this book were welcome, and the characters were quite well written as well. On the topic of characters, I will say that I wasn't initially sure how to feel about Etienne, as unlike his Disney counterpart, Gaston, he's very sympathizable. Although I liked how 3 dimensional a character he was, I found it to be a bit of an issue when Celeste left home. Obviously, I understand that she did not love him romantically, and therefore didn't want to marry him, but considering it was her best option and benefitted her family, it made her running away seem a bit rash. But then she left home and flourished, as expected, so I understand her decision. Again, without mentioning any major spoilers, I was a little confused about how to feel about Etienne at the end of the book. He was still a well rounded character I felt bad for, but he also felt like the closest thing to a villain this book had (not because he was evil, just because his goals stood in the way of Celeste's). Luckily, I found that during the confrontation he didn't stray too far from the character he had been established as and I liked the way this book concluded. Even though there were a few moments were I wasn't sure how to feel about Etienne, I'd much rather read a book with 3 dimensional characters that occasionally gets confusing (as to who you should mainly be sympathizing with) than a book with flat characters who oppose the protagonist. On to my thoughts about the romance. To put it simply, I was really impressed by it. This book does start kind of slow, and since the love interests did not interact until about the 50% mark, I was worried the romance was going to be rushed, but it wasn't. Celeste and "the Beast's" conversations felt genuine and you could sense the connection they had as people. Their relationship was really strongly written, and as a whole I really liked this author's writing style. Onto my last note, which is minor, but I think worthy of mentioning. I appreciate that the author acknowledged at the start of the book that the land this was written on is Aboriginal land. This is something people are starting to acknowledge more and more as of late, but I'd never seen an author mention it in a book's acknowledgments, so I was impressed to see this. Overall, this was a really enjoyable and dynamic Beauty and the Beast retelling that I'd recommend to any YA fantasy readers.
Side note, I'm not normally one for pet names, but for whatever reason "little finch" has me in an absolute CHOKEHOLD
October 8, 2021
[Rating: somewhere between 4.5 and 5] Oh wow! This book is a wild ride and I’m so happy I got to go on this journey with Celeste. Yes, it’s a (somewhat loose) sapphic retelling of Beauty and the Beast, but it’s also so much more. For better or for worse, I was completely immersed in this book, and it’ll be one of my standout reads of the year.
Set in 1860s France, this book follows Celeste Rossan, a 17-year-old aspiring naturalist who dreams of attending the Exposition Universelle in Paris. She’s a well-developed main character whose fears, flaws, and desires we get to know intimately. She lives in the town of La Baie Doree alongside her widowed father and stylish sister Genevieve, and we're also introduced to a large cast of side characters, all of whom are well-actualized and most of whom are likable. When her good friend Etienne, who enjoys hunting, sees signs of a mysterious new creature in the forest, Celeste is determined to work with him to find the beast and thus gain acclaim as a naturalist.
The “Misadventures” part of the title is not to be taken lightly. Celeste constantly finds herself in situations that sent my anxiety through the roof. The first ~40% of the book focuses on her misadventures in her hometown, and during this part I got so anxious I wasn’t sure how much more I could take. The secondhand embarrassment, the dread, a certain god-awful side character…whew! While it wasn’t always pleasant to read this part, my heightened emotional state speaks to the strength in Langley’s writing.
The remaining ~60% is set in an abandoned manor, where Celeste eventually meets the Beast. When she first arrives at the manor, (imo) it takes a bit too long to get to the point. About 10%(?) of the book involves Celeste meandering around the manor, trying to glean information while only observing the Beast from a distance (though there is an intensely lovable side character to help make this part more enjoyable). When Celeste and the Beast finally start communicating, they’re so sweet and lovely with each other! Many scenes reminded me of a historical One Last Stop, because the main character takes on a detective role to solve the mystery of her new friend’s existence (and for other wonderful reasons that I’ll let you discover on your own)!
I loved the budding relationship between Celeste and the Beast so much! There’s a skill in crafting a potential romance between a human and a mysterious creature that doesn’t feel weird and off, and I think Langley did a wonderful job walking that fine line. I ADORED the moment Celeste realizes her feelings for the Beast! It’s so clever and well-done, and when she finally admits it, I SWOONED. Trust me, it’s the sweetest, most tender thing and is not weird at all.
For several reasons, I’m so glad this book is the first in a series. First, the Celeste/Beast relationship is just beginning, I love their dynamic so much, and I can’t wait to read more about them! Second, so much of this book is focused on setting the scene, and I think some plot points suffered a bit. Future books in the series would be able to build on this well-crafted world and answer some lingering questions. Third, I’m hoping for changes to some of Celeste’s attitudes. In this book she kind of turns her nose up at femininity and tries to figure out how to cater to the men of her desired profession. While I realize the necessity of this attitude given the time period, I’m hoping that in the second book Celeste will meet some badass women scientists and learn to embrace a more feminist attitude (just like she starts to question whether hunting for sport is okay)!
In short, this book left a great impression on me and I’ve found a new gem in Langley’s writing! I can’t wait to read the next book in the series!
content warnings: animal violence/hunting, animal death, blood, coerced marriage, death of a loved one, gore, guilt, hallucinations, manipulation, memory loss, misogyny, gun violence
I received an ARC from Feed the Writer Press via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Set in 1860s France, this book follows Celeste Rossan, a 17-year-old aspiring naturalist who dreams of attending the Exposition Universelle in Paris. She’s a well-developed main character whose fears, flaws, and desires we get to know intimately. She lives in the town of La Baie Doree alongside her widowed father and stylish sister Genevieve, and we're also introduced to a large cast of side characters, all of whom are well-actualized and most of whom are likable. When her good friend Etienne, who enjoys hunting, sees signs of a mysterious new creature in the forest, Celeste is determined to work with him to find the beast and thus gain acclaim as a naturalist.
The “Misadventures” part of the title is not to be taken lightly. Celeste constantly finds herself in situations that sent my anxiety through the roof. The first ~40% of the book focuses on her misadventures in her hometown, and during this part I got so anxious I wasn’t sure how much more I could take. The secondhand embarrassment, the dread, a certain god-awful side character…whew! While it wasn’t always pleasant to read this part, my heightened emotional state speaks to the strength in Langley’s writing.
The remaining ~60% is set in an abandoned manor, where Celeste eventually meets the Beast. When she first arrives at the manor, (imo) it takes a bit too long to get to the point. About 10%(?) of the book involves Celeste meandering around the manor, trying to glean information while only observing the Beast from a distance (though there is an intensely lovable side character to help make this part more enjoyable). When Celeste and the Beast finally start communicating, they’re so sweet and lovely with each other! Many scenes reminded me of a historical One Last Stop, because the main character takes on a detective role to solve the mystery of her new friend’s existence (and for other wonderful reasons that I’ll let you discover on your own)!
I loved the budding relationship between Celeste and the Beast so much! There’s a skill in crafting a potential romance between a human and a mysterious creature that doesn’t feel weird and off, and I think Langley did a wonderful job walking that fine line. I ADORED the moment Celeste realizes her feelings for the Beast! It’s so clever and well-done, and when she finally admits it, I SWOONED. Trust me, it’s the sweetest, most tender thing and is not weird at all.
For several reasons, I’m so glad this book is the first in a series. First, the Celeste/Beast relationship is just beginning, I love their dynamic so much, and I can’t wait to read more about them! Second, so much of this book is focused on setting the scene, and I think some plot points suffered a bit. Future books in the series would be able to build on this well-crafted world and answer some lingering questions. Third, I’m hoping for changes to some of Celeste’s attitudes. In this book she kind of turns her nose up at femininity and tries to figure out how to cater to the men of her desired profession. While I realize the necessity of this attitude given the time period, I’m hoping that in the second book Celeste will meet some badass women scientists and learn to embrace a more feminist attitude (just like she starts to question whether hunting for sport is okay)!
In short, this book left a great impression on me and I’ve found a new gem in Langley’s writing! I can’t wait to read the next book in the series!
content warnings: animal violence/hunting, animal death, blood, coerced marriage, death of a loved one, gore, guilt, hallucinations, manipulation, memory loss, misogyny, gun violence
I received an ARC from Feed the Writer Press via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
April 8, 2022
Beauty and the beast but sapphic? yes please.
January 31, 2023
5✨
I loved everything about this. It was so cute, sweet and was full of beautiful prose and imagery. Langley is definetly an author to watch!!
I loved everything about this. It was so cute, sweet and was full of beautiful prose and imagery. Langley is definetly an author to watch!!
June 16, 2021
Thanks to the publisher for providing an eARC of The Misadventures of an Amateur Naturalist in exchange for an honest review.
First off, I am so, so, down for lesbian Beauty and the Beast. If the straights get 50 new BatB retellings every year, we should at least get this one. Amateur Naturalist was fun, but never quite lived up to my expectations.
For starters, the "Celeste is overwhelmed by the elements and has to seek shelter" thing described in the description doesn't happen until about the 40% part meaning we don't even get to meet the Beast until halfway through the book. Once the BatB stuff is introduced, it also all plays out rather predictably for a retelling.
This was sweet, I'm happy it exists, but it was also fairly average.
First off, I am so, so, down for lesbian Beauty and the Beast. If the straights get 50 new BatB retellings every year, we should at least get this one. Amateur Naturalist was fun, but never quite lived up to my expectations.
For starters, the "Celeste is overwhelmed by the elements and has to seek shelter" thing described in the description doesn't happen until about the 40% part meaning we don't even get to meet the Beast until halfway through the book. Once the BatB stuff is introduced, it also all plays out rather predictably for a retelling.
This was sweet, I'm happy it exists, but it was also fairly average.
October 1, 2021
*e-ARC provided through NetGalley*
this book was so beautiful, it's hard to describe.
I wanted to give it 3 stars in the beginning, but up until the end it just kept getting better and better, and when I tell you the ending was absolutely phenomenal- that's when I knew this book would become one of my favorites.
although it was hard for me to immerse myself in this story in the beginning, because of how slow it felt, after the 50% mark I truly couldn't put it down.
I absolutely loved how perfectly constructed and lovable, the main character celeste was, because that's what I value the most, as a character-driven reader.
"The Misadventures of an Amateur Naturalist" was truly one of the- if not the most beautifully written and poetic books I've ever read. it made me feel so many emotions, which is rare for me. for the last 10% of the story, I was looking at the pages wide and teary-eyed, and I'm not sure I even blinked. it was all just so overwhelmingly romantic and sweet, the only word I can think of to describe it is "lovely."
I regret not having had read this ARC the second I received it, because maybe then it would've felt even more special, somehow? nonetheless, this beautiful sapphic story is definitely something I recommend to everyone. it might not be for everyone, but I know that people who appreciate beauty in words, characters, or the atmosphere of books will absolutely adore this.
this book was so beautiful, it's hard to describe.
I wanted to give it 3 stars in the beginning, but up until the end it just kept getting better and better, and when I tell you the ending was absolutely phenomenal- that's when I knew this book would become one of my favorites.
although it was hard for me to immerse myself in this story in the beginning, because of how slow it felt, after the 50% mark I truly couldn't put it down.
I absolutely loved how perfectly constructed and lovable, the main character celeste was, because that's what I value the most, as a character-driven reader.
"The Misadventures of an Amateur Naturalist" was truly one of the- if not the most beautifully written and poetic books I've ever read. it made me feel so many emotions, which is rare for me. for the last 10% of the story, I was looking at the pages wide and teary-eyed, and I'm not sure I even blinked. it was all just so overwhelmingly romantic and sweet, the only word I can think of to describe it is "lovely."
I regret not having had read this ARC the second I received it, because maybe then it would've felt even more special, somehow? nonetheless, this beautiful sapphic story is definitely something I recommend to everyone. it might not be for everyone, but I know that people who appreciate beauty in words, characters, or the atmosphere of books will absolutely adore this.
September 3, 2021
The Misadventures Of An Amateur Naturalist is a sapphic retelling of Beauty And The Beast. I loved the writing style in this book. It is elegant and perfectly fitted the time period the story is set in. The characters were all 3 dimensional which made the story even more enjoyable. This is BatB with but with more of a nature element. Celeste Rossan adores nature whereas Belle, her equivalent, adores reading and literature. The only issue I have with this book is that I was 40% of the way through for the plot that is described in the synopsis to begin. The synopsis states that “she sees a narrow opportunity to escape to Paris” and this doesn’t unfold until almost half way through. As well as this I was 50% of the way through before the love interest was introduced. This wasn’t my biggest issue i personally just prefer to have met the love interest earlier in the books so I have more time to form an opinion. This book was entertaining and enjoyable
August 9, 2021
The Misadventures of an Amateur Naturalist (quite the mouthful title) was a tad disappointing, but not entirely uninteresting.
For a retailing, it was nice to see added representation and the erasure of certain aspects that could've irked those that know the original story (Gaston's mere existence, for example, and the so-called Stockholm syndrome). In that aspect, the story has an almost "lighter" feeling to it. while still exploring the various challenges queer people and also women of the era had to face.
It was more heavily focused on Celeste's journey to become a Naturalist than I expected, which resulted in exhausting descriptions in some scenes. The fact that she truly only met the beast halfway through the book also vexed me - sure, I wasn't promised a love story from the start, but when you're aware of the original, and when you've read about 10 chapters of a young woman suffering, struggling to find her right place in the world, long sentences hardly feel interesting, only tiring.
By far my favourite part of the book was Celeste exploring the Beast's past life. I found it more thrilling, almost enchanting - it was set in the Versailles! which I'm aware wasn't the cleanest place, but it surely was portrayed as such - and even wished that we could've had the book telling that story instead of the retelling. Instead, we travelled through journal entries and conversations.
Everything else I did not specific mention was simply nice. There was no extensive list of characters, and although I found the pacing quite slow most of the time, the dialogue and the little details are still worth a mention.
For a retailing, it was nice to see added representation and the erasure of certain aspects that could've irked those that know the original story (Gaston's mere existence, for example, and the so-called Stockholm syndrome). In that aspect, the story has an almost "lighter" feeling to it. while still exploring the various challenges queer people and also women of the era had to face.
It was more heavily focused on Celeste's journey to become a Naturalist than I expected, which resulted in exhausting descriptions in some scenes. The fact that she truly only met the beast halfway through the book also vexed me - sure, I wasn't promised a love story from the start, but when you're aware of the original, and when you've read about 10 chapters of a young woman suffering, struggling to find her right place in the world, long sentences hardly feel interesting, only tiring.
By far my favourite part of the book was Celeste exploring the Beast's past life. I found it more thrilling, almost enchanting - it was set in the Versailles! which I'm aware wasn't the cleanest place, but it surely was portrayed as such - and even wished that we could've had the book telling that story instead of the retelling. Instead, we travelled through journal entries and conversations.
Everything else I did not specific mention was simply nice. There was no extensive list of characters, and although I found the pacing quite slow most of the time, the dialogue and the little details are still worth a mention.
February 24, 2022
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in return for an honest review
ENG
Oh gosh, where to start?
I loved this book. It was such a joyous read.
I was initially drawn to it because it is a sapphic Beauty and the Beast retelling, but I soon found out that it was just a part of the book. A great part of the story is, in fact, the character of Celeste, the amateur naturalist, determined in becoming a real one and doing everything in her power to achieve it and going to the Exposition Universelle.
It was so a great thing to see an objectively different retelling that, bacause of this, seemed more as a new book itself that anything else.
Thisi is one of the main reasons why I liked Celoeste a lot as a character; her passion, her wit and intellect, her curiosity and determination were present and could be felt in everything she did and dreamt about. The moments spent analysing the situations, making sketches of the animals around her, remembering the theories and stories of the great adventurers and naturalists before her, using her imagination but still with a scientific filter (so that the easiest solution to the Beast's mystery wouldn't cross her mind), gave all a clear and complete idea of her and made it easy to care for her and wonder if and how would she escape certain situations. But she is not just and amateur naturalist and adventurer, she still is a neo-eighteenth girl, and her love for sweets and adventure stories made her even more realistic and closer to the reader.
I also liked the frame narration expedient, by which we found out something more about Bridgette's story reading her journal, althogether with her character, her passions and her love. It was a good idea of giving those informations that the Beast could not speak about. and helped iddentifying more with the character since it was written in first person, just like the general narration.
There where little flaws, of course, no book is perfect.
I thought about some of them longer than for others, I would have liked a longer and deeper explanation of the curse or more described scenes when it was broken. I would also have liked to Celeste to see or at least connect with her family and friends once again, even tho I think she eventually did.
But despite everything, because of how much it intrigued me, how much I felt the characters close to me and how beautiful all the types of love portrayed in this book were, I cannot give it less than four stars.
ITA
ALLORA
Devo dire che non mi aspettavo mi sarebbe piaciuto così tanto.
È stato una lettura scorrevole e piacevole, ma la cosa che ho apprezzato di più è che, nonostante sia presentato come un retelling de La Bella e la Bestia, la storia non girava unicamente attorno a questo (anche se in realtà lo si poteva capire già del nome lol).
Il punto principale resta la volontà della protagonista, Celeste, di diventare una naturalista, il suo sogno quello di partecipare all'Exposition Universelle di Parigi e diventare apprendista di uno degli scienziati più famosi del mondo ed è disposta a tutto pur di raggiungere il suo obiettivo.
Subito però la sua condizione sociale e il suo essere donna le mettono i bastoni fra le ruote. Costretta a sposarsi e a rinunciare ai viaggi promessi, Celeste non demorde e compie la scelta che svolterà la sua vita: scappare dalla sua città e decidere di restare nel castello abbandonato che ha trovato dopo giorni di cammino, per studiare la bestia che vive al suo interno e portare la sua scoperta al'Exposition sperando di catturare l'attenzione di qualcuno.
All'interno del castello però Celeste capisce che ciò che ha davanti è un mistero che neanche le teorie dell'evoluzione di Darwin possono spiegare, che la Bestia parlante, gli altri animali dagli atteggiamenti quasi umani e le storie dei precedenti abitanti del castello finiscono per attirare Celeste ad un livello più profondo di quello della semplice curiosità lavorativa, per cui presto inizia a sentirsi lì come a casa e a vedere allontanarsi i suoi obiettivi iniziali.
Tra le cose che ho apprezzato di più c'è proprio la caratterizzazione della protagonista, quanto la scienza sia una sua grande passione, come il suo sogno la spinga ad andare avanti durante ogni difficoltà, per cui molto spesso si fermava ad analizzare le informazioni attorno a lei, a fare schizzi degli animali che trovava, osservava piena di curiosità ciò che accadeva attorno a lei e usava l'immaginazione comunque attraverso un filtro molto scientifico. Ma questo suo essere un personaggio abbastanza realistico era dato anche delle sue parti più "infantili", per cui resta comunque una ragazza che ama le torte, i romanzi di avventura e spera che un giorno potrà amare senza paura di venire criticata.
C'erano comunque alcune lacune, personaggi descritti un po' troppo superficialmente e scene non descritte abbastanza a lungo quanto meritassero.
Questi difetti erano effettivamente abbastanza pesanti presi singolarmente, ma per quanto avrei voluto una maggiore attenzione a questi particolari, non posso negare che sia stata comunque una bellissima lettura, che mi ha colpita e incuriosita dall'inizio alla fine e che mi ha emozionata in molti punti, per cui non posso dargli meno di quattro stelle
ENG
Oh gosh, where to start?
I loved this book. It was such a joyous read.
I was initially drawn to it because it is a sapphic Beauty and the Beast retelling, but I soon found out that it was just a part of the book. A great part of the story is, in fact, the character of Celeste, the amateur naturalist, determined in becoming a real one and doing everything in her power to achieve it and going to the Exposition Universelle.
It was so a great thing to see an objectively different retelling that, bacause of this, seemed more as a new book itself that anything else.
Thisi is one of the main reasons why I liked Celoeste a lot as a character; her passion, her wit and intellect, her curiosity and determination were present and could be felt in everything she did and dreamt about. The moments spent analysing the situations, making sketches of the animals around her, remembering the theories and stories of the great adventurers and naturalists before her, using her imagination but still with a scientific filter (so that the easiest solution to the Beast's mystery wouldn't cross her mind), gave all a clear and complete idea of her and made it easy to care for her and wonder if and how would she escape certain situations. But she is not just and amateur naturalist and adventurer, she still is a neo-eighteenth girl, and her love for sweets and adventure stories made her even more realistic and closer to the reader.
I also liked the frame narration expedient, by which we found out something more about Bridgette's story reading her journal, althogether with her character, her passions and her love. It was a good idea of giving those informations that the Beast could not speak about. and helped iddentifying more with the character since it was written in first person, just like the general narration.
There where little flaws, of course, no book is perfect.
I thought about some of them longer than for others, I would have liked a longer and deeper explanation of the curse or more described scenes when it was broken. I would also have liked to Celeste to see or at least connect with her family and friends once again, even tho I think she eventually did.
But despite everything, because of how much it intrigued me, how much I felt the characters close to me and how beautiful all the types of love portrayed in this book were, I cannot give it less than four stars.
ITA
ALLORA
Devo dire che non mi aspettavo mi sarebbe piaciuto così tanto.
È stato una lettura scorrevole e piacevole, ma la cosa che ho apprezzato di più è che, nonostante sia presentato come un retelling de La Bella e la Bestia, la storia non girava unicamente attorno a questo (anche se in realtà lo si poteva capire già del nome lol).
Il punto principale resta la volontà della protagonista, Celeste, di diventare una naturalista, il suo sogno quello di partecipare all'Exposition Universelle di Parigi e diventare apprendista di uno degli scienziati più famosi del mondo ed è disposta a tutto pur di raggiungere il suo obiettivo.
Subito però la sua condizione sociale e il suo essere donna le mettono i bastoni fra le ruote. Costretta a sposarsi e a rinunciare ai viaggi promessi, Celeste non demorde e compie la scelta che svolterà la sua vita: scappare dalla sua città e decidere di restare nel castello abbandonato che ha trovato dopo giorni di cammino, per studiare la bestia che vive al suo interno e portare la sua scoperta al'Exposition sperando di catturare l'attenzione di qualcuno.
All'interno del castello però Celeste capisce che ciò che ha davanti è un mistero che neanche le teorie dell'evoluzione di Darwin possono spiegare, che la Bestia parlante, gli altri animali dagli atteggiamenti quasi umani e le storie dei precedenti abitanti del castello finiscono per attirare Celeste ad un livello più profondo di quello della semplice curiosità lavorativa, per cui presto inizia a sentirsi lì come a casa e a vedere allontanarsi i suoi obiettivi iniziali.
Tra le cose che ho apprezzato di più c'è proprio la caratterizzazione della protagonista, quanto la scienza sia una sua grande passione, come il suo sogno la spinga ad andare avanti durante ogni difficoltà, per cui molto spesso si fermava ad analizzare le informazioni attorno a lei, a fare schizzi degli animali che trovava, osservava piena di curiosità ciò che accadeva attorno a lei e usava l'immaginazione comunque attraverso un filtro molto scientifico. Ma questo suo essere un personaggio abbastanza realistico era dato anche delle sue parti più "infantili", per cui resta comunque una ragazza che ama le torte, i romanzi di avventura e spera che un giorno potrà amare senza paura di venire criticata.
C'erano comunque alcune lacune, personaggi descritti un po' troppo superficialmente e scene non descritte abbastanza a lungo quanto meritassero.
Questi difetti erano effettivamente abbastanza pesanti presi singolarmente, ma per quanto avrei voluto una maggiore attenzione a questi particolari, non posso negare che sia stata comunque una bellissima lettura, che mi ha colpita e incuriosita dall'inizio alla fine e che mi ha emozionata in molti punti, per cui non posso dargli meno di quattro stelle
August 14, 2021
Thank you to Feed the Writer Press via NetGalley for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
3/5.
The Misadventures of an Amateur Naturalist is a YA historical sapphic retelling of Beauty and the Beast. It follows our main character, Celeste Rossan (an amateur naturalist), as she tries to track a mysterious beast in the woods.
Let me start by saying that the writing is stunning. Seriously some of the best writing I've seen in a while. This is undoubtedly a very original retelling and the character dynamics are *chef's kiss*.
My biggest problem with this book is that Celeste and the Beast didn't meet until 47% in. There was a big focus on Celeste's life as an amateur naturalist - which is fine and I enjoyed reading about it - but I did expect them to meet sooner. As a result, the first half wasn't as interesting to me as the second half.
I love historical fiction, and reading about life back then - as well as how gender roles and sexuality were viewed at the time - was immensely interesting to me. I adored reading about Bridgette and Eloise in particular.
The sapphic romance was lovely, I just wish we had spent more time with them.
Overall, it was an enjoyable read.
3/5.
The Misadventures of an Amateur Naturalist is a YA historical sapphic retelling of Beauty and the Beast. It follows our main character, Celeste Rossan (an amateur naturalist), as she tries to track a mysterious beast in the woods.
Let me start by saying that the writing is stunning. Seriously some of the best writing I've seen in a while. This is undoubtedly a very original retelling and the character dynamics are *chef's kiss*.
My biggest problem with this book is that Celeste and the Beast didn't meet until 47% in. There was a big focus on Celeste's life as an amateur naturalist - which is fine and I enjoyed reading about it - but I did expect them to meet sooner. As a result, the first half wasn't as interesting to me as the second half.
I love historical fiction, and reading about life back then - as well as how gender roles and sexuality were viewed at the time - was immensely interesting to me. I adored reading about Bridgette and Eloise in particular.
The sapphic romance was lovely, I just wish we had spent more time with them.
Overall, it was an enjoyable read.
March 12, 2024
!!Sapphic Beauty and the Beast Retelling!! This is not a drill! It's a sapphic beauty and the beast retelling!
I enjoyed every ounce of this book! Celeste was a fantastic heroin and I loved the longer beginning we get with her/getting to know her as a character before we meet the "beast".
Fit for a YA audience but written in such a pleasant and sophisticated style I would recommend this to anyone!
I enjoyed every ounce of this book! Celeste was a fantastic heroin and I loved the longer beginning we get with her/getting to know her as a character before we meet the "beast".
Fit for a YA audience but written in such a pleasant and sophisticated style I would recommend this to anyone!
September 13, 2021
4.5 STARS
firstly, i would like to thank the author and netgalley for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review.
secondly, please read this book! i can’t stress how lovely it was. i haven’t read many beauty and the beast retellings, but most of them fall short from the original story, and i was worried that this one would. spoiler alert: it didn’t.
it was gritty at times and wholesome at others, and always kept me hooked.
i loved the plot and characters, and found myself laughing with them. it was also surprisingly creative for a retelling. (also IT’S SAPPHIC!). the book was genuinely difficult to put down, and i’m so grateful that i got the opportunity to read it
firstly, i would like to thank the author and netgalley for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review.
secondly, please read this book! i can’t stress how lovely it was. i haven’t read many beauty and the beast retellings, but most of them fall short from the original story, and i was worried that this one would. spoiler alert: it didn’t.
it was gritty at times and wholesome at others, and always kept me hooked.
i loved the plot and characters, and found myself laughing with them. it was also surprisingly creative for a retelling. (also IT’S SAPPHIC!). the book was genuinely difficult to put down, and i’m so grateful that i got the opportunity to read it
June 13, 2021
A passionate & ambitious protagonist you can't help but adore and root for, featuring notes of Beauty & the Beast.
Synopsis:
1866, France:
Celeste Rossan is well known for her eccentric predilections; she would tenfold prefer to be absconded in the forest, kneeling in mud, sketching bugs, than dancing and enduring insipid small talk.
Double underline on the, 'No men,' part is you catch my drift...
Although a scioness of a well established wealthy family, she has no interest in the traditional life that would thereof follow; marriage, drawing rooms, and children.
Much unlike her sister, Genevieve, who would like nothing as much as to do all the above with Etienne, their childhood friend and local most coveted/ eligible bachelor. No, playing house is not in the cards for Celeste, who aspires to travel the world, have grand adventures, and make significant discoveries as a Naturalist.
The not so small concern is how she will attain a mentor due to her gender, but she is comforted by the notion that surely her family wealth may provide some aid in terms of persuasion.
Her plans are however thwarted when her father’s shipping business,
is waylaid by a crisis; suddenly the family business is ‘in the red’. Three ships were lost and as a result money gets tight and they have to move to an unfashionable side of town into an cramped apartment and rent out their home. An opportunity to save her family from ruin presents itself, and she resolves to consign herself to a life she never wanted, but as the reality of what she would be subjecting herself to becomes clear and begins to cement in stone, Celeste will be faced with choosing a subdued, but safe future, or taking a frightening risk that may very well be the gateway to a grand adventure.
There is a lot more to the story, but I won't divulge it, as I believe it is best experienced first hand!
What Charmed:
♡The narrative voice is engaging, witty, and occasionally quippy. I just got sucked into the story right away.
♡Celeste! I just adored her, she is a protagonist that is easy to admire and root for.
♡Compelling conflict, I really felt torn on what the best decision was- it was not obvious- well it was, but it was not easy, and 'twas something many individuals had to contend with due to society and it's conventional expectations. Especially with Lucile Lajoie
♡
What Irked Me
The Brass Tacks:
➭I have a poor track record with books that have stunning covers, and I do declare that I found this story just as beautiful on the inside as on the outside. Even when I had to put this book down due to the real world, I kept finding my mind muling over the story and eager to return to it, which from my diagnosed ADD standpoint is a credit to it's enthralling narrative.
I will admit this is my first LGBT Historical Romance, and now I feel utterly chagrined to have not righted that oversight sooner- that was some heteronormative BS on my part- not cash money of me at all! My Guncles raised me better, and I shall strive to round out my HRs diversity more.
In short, I simply adored this, and I believe it is an excellent start to the series. I will be awaiting the sequel to our heroine's misadventures on bated breath!
I highly recommend!
I received an ARC of this book from the publisher through NetGalley for an honest review.
------------------------------------------
♫Amour Plastique, J'en ai Marre.
The following is my personal, grade A, cast spoiler notes, I am saving to help recall for the sequel, do not read:
Synopsis:
1866, France:
Celeste Rossan is well known for her eccentric predilections; she would tenfold prefer to be absconded in the forest, kneeling in mud, sketching bugs, than dancing and enduring insipid small talk.
Double underline on the, 'No men,' part is you catch my drift...
Although a scioness of a well established wealthy family, she has no interest in the traditional life that would thereof follow; marriage, drawing rooms, and children.
Much unlike her sister, Genevieve, who would like nothing as much as to do all the above with Etienne, their childhood friend and local most coveted/ eligible bachelor. No, playing house is not in the cards for Celeste, who aspires to travel the world, have grand adventures, and make significant discoveries as a Naturalist.
The not so small concern is how she will attain a mentor due to her gender, but she is comforted by the notion that surely her family wealth may provide some aid in terms of persuasion.
Her plans are however thwarted when her father’s shipping business,
is waylaid by a crisis; suddenly the family business is ‘in the red’. Three ships were lost and as a result money gets tight and they have to move to an unfashionable side of town into an cramped apartment and rent out their home. An opportunity to save her family from ruin presents itself, and she resolves to consign herself to a life she never wanted, but as the reality of what she would be subjecting herself to becomes clear and begins to cement in stone, Celeste will be faced with choosing a subdued, but safe future, or taking a frightening risk that may very well be the gateway to a grand adventure.
There is a lot more to the story, but I won't divulge it, as I believe it is best experienced first hand!
What Charmed:
♡The narrative voice is engaging, witty, and occasionally quippy. I just got sucked into the story right away.
♡Celeste! I just adored her, she is a protagonist that is easy to admire and root for.
♡Compelling conflict, I really felt torn on what the best decision was- it was not obvious- well it was, but it was not easy, and 'twas something many individuals had to contend with due to society and it's conventional expectations. Especially with Lucile Lajoie
♡
What Irked Me
The Brass Tacks:
➭I have a poor track record with books that have stunning covers, and I do declare that I found this story just as beautiful on the inside as on the outside. Even when I had to put this book down due to the real world, I kept finding my mind muling over the story and eager to return to it, which from my diagnosed ADD standpoint is a credit to it's enthralling narrative.
I will admit this is my first LGBT Historical Romance, and now I feel utterly chagrined to have not righted that oversight sooner- that was some heteronormative BS on my part- not cash money of me at all! My Guncles raised me better, and I shall strive to round out my HRs diversity more.
In short, I simply adored this, and I believe it is an excellent start to the series. I will be awaiting the sequel to our heroine's misadventures on bated breath!
I highly recommend!
I received an ARC of this book from the publisher through NetGalley for an honest review.
------------------------------------------
♫Amour Plastique, J'en ai Marre.
The following is my personal, grade A, cast spoiler notes, I am saving to help recall for the sequel, do not read:
September 25, 2021
3.75 Well, I had fun with this one. This is another retelling of Beauty and the Beast, and with a queer Belle and Beast. Interestingly, this time we focus more on our Belle character, following her as she strives towards her dreams and goals. We don't even really meet our Beast until about 2/3rds of the way through the book. Also, all the elements of the original tale are there, but with some fun twists that are kind of refreshing.
Celeste is a charming, beautiful, and quirky young woman who dreams of being a naturalist. She and her sister are primed to go on a promised trip to Paris, where Celeste hopes to show off her findings, but circumstance makes it impossible. In fact, she is forced to be engaged her longtime childhood friend because of a misunderstanding, and is subjugated to his overbearing and cruel mother. With her dreams squashed, she runs away and ends up in a seemingly abandoned chateau where she gets sick. That's when she meets the Beast, a monstrous being who as smart and charming as she is horrifying to look at. Celeste is fascinated by the Beast and soon feelings stronger than a scientist interviewing her subject arise.
I really enjoy this Belle and Beast pairing. Celeste is as quirky and charming as her Disney counterpart, and the Beast is actually as kind and smart as Celeste, but because she hasn't actually interacted with people in over a hundred years she has to re-learn people. Beast's backstory is quite tragic, but it really wasn't explained how she could become human again, I think. I did re-read some sections of the book, but it kind of is hand waved away as the Beast forgetting most of her transformation. There are other fun nods to the Disney version and the original, but it avoids making the Beast cruel by kind of making her just indifferent, then intrigued by Celeste, which is a nice dynamic. Celeste is endlessly fascinated with the Beast, but the Beast really doesn't care to much at the beginning.
This looks like it could start a small series, and because the book kind of ends with the Beast and Celeste kind of facing the future together, I'd love to see what they do next. I love their chemistry and I love that Celeste is such an adorkable nerd with a bit of steel in her. I would love to explore more of that as well. Love this retelling.
*I received this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Celeste is a charming, beautiful, and quirky young woman who dreams of being a naturalist. She and her sister are primed to go on a promised trip to Paris, where Celeste hopes to show off her findings, but circumstance makes it impossible. In fact, she is forced to be engaged her longtime childhood friend because of a misunderstanding, and is subjugated to his overbearing and cruel mother. With her dreams squashed, she runs away and ends up in a seemingly abandoned chateau where she gets sick. That's when she meets the Beast, a monstrous being who as smart and charming as she is horrifying to look at. Celeste is fascinated by the Beast and soon feelings stronger than a scientist interviewing her subject arise.
I really enjoy this Belle and Beast pairing. Celeste is as quirky and charming as her Disney counterpart, and the Beast is actually as kind and smart as Celeste, but because she hasn't actually interacted with people in over a hundred years she has to re-learn people. Beast's backstory is quite tragic, but it really wasn't explained how she could become human again, I think. I did re-read some sections of the book, but it kind of is hand waved away as the Beast forgetting most of her transformation. There are other fun nods to the Disney version and the original, but it avoids making the Beast cruel by kind of making her just indifferent, then intrigued by Celeste, which is a nice dynamic. Celeste is endlessly fascinated with the Beast, but the Beast really doesn't care to much at the beginning.
This looks like it could start a small series, and because the book kind of ends with the Beast and Celeste kind of facing the future together, I'd love to see what they do next. I love their chemistry and I love that Celeste is such an adorkable nerd with a bit of steel in her. I would love to explore more of that as well. Love this retelling.
*I received this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
July 9, 2021
This book was such a sweet read. Overall I had fun reading and found myself very invested in Celeste and the beast's relationship, and was interested in all the other characters introduced in the beginning of the book. I will say in my opinion that it is very slow-paced for the most part, which isn't a bad thing to me, but I know some people don't like slow reads.
There were a couple aspects of the book that I wasn't thrilled about which were that you have to get through around 40% of the book for Celeste to even meet the beast, and 50% for their first conversation. I wouldn't say that the buildup to that is unimportant, but I think going in expecting a beast and not seeing her until 40% in disappointed me a little. And while I know the main character is very science minded, I would have liked to know more about the magic/curse that made the beast, although that does like it's going to be addressed eventually.
That being said I did not dislike reading the beginning chapters, and the book was distinctly split into two parts that I think were separated well. Celeste is a very enjoyable character, and I appreciated that you could see both her flaws and the positive aspects of her character front and center.
I thought the romance between Celeste and the beast was very subtle and sweet as it built up. The ending was satisfying while still leaving it open for the sequel
There were a couple aspects of the book that I wasn't thrilled about which were that you have to get through around 40% of the book for Celeste to even meet the beast, and 50% for their first conversation. I wouldn't say that the buildup to that is unimportant, but I think going in expecting a beast and not seeing her until 40% in disappointed me a little. And while I know the main character is very science minded, I would have liked to know more about the magic/curse that made the beast, although that does like it's going to be addressed eventually.
That being said I did not dislike reading the beginning chapters, and the book was distinctly split into two parts that I think were separated well. Celeste is a very enjoyable character, and I appreciated that you could see both her flaws and the positive aspects of her character front and center.
I thought the romance between Celeste and the beast was very subtle and sweet as it built up. The ending was satisfying while still leaving it open for the sequel
January 28, 2023
It took me a while to pick this up, because even though it sounded good, I don't think I quite knew what to expect. I tend to love Beauty and the Beast retellings though, and a sapphic one sounded right up my alley.
I really enjoyed this, but I also wish we had gotten to meet the Beast a little earlier on. The book was very well written and engaging, so I didn't mind too much and was definitely enjoying myself, but it took a long time for the story to actually get going, and I feel like the start of the story, before Celeste left her home, could have been more concise.
I did expect the book to have a little more romance, but it took a long time for Celeste to meet the Beast and then an even longer time for them to get to know each other (which I did enjoy a lot!). I do feel like there is a lot of potential for a sequel.
As it is, I did enjoy this, but it's not a new favourite for me. I might be interested in picking up a possible sequel though! I feel like the book could be better judged after reading that too.
I really enjoyed this, but I also wish we had gotten to meet the Beast a little earlier on. The book was very well written and engaging, so I didn't mind too much and was definitely enjoying myself, but it took a long time for the story to actually get going, and I feel like the start of the story, before Celeste left her home, could have been more concise.
I did expect the book to have a little more romance, but it took a long time for Celeste to meet the Beast and then an even longer time for them to get to know each other (which I did enjoy a lot!). I do feel like there is a lot of potential for a sequel.
As it is, I did enjoy this, but it's not a new favourite for me. I might be interested in picking up a possible sequel though! I feel like the book could be better judged after reading that too.
August 9, 2025
Actual Rating: 4.5/5
I really enjoyed this book and how much of an ode it was to the original Beauty and the Beast while making it its own retelling. First of all, I LOVED the sapphic yearning that this book entailed. If someone could make a sapphic cover of evermore, I’d be eternally grateful! I loved loved loved that the magical beings around the castle well forest really were animals and all sorts of “ugly not really as loved animals too” like barn owls and bats! The Gaston character was a little weak but I enjoyed how the author redid him for the most part but that’s why it wasn’t a full 5 stars for me but man this book was incredible and I’m sad I took so long to read it!
I really enjoyed this book and how much of an ode it was to the original Beauty and the Beast while making it its own retelling. First of all, I LOVED the sapphic yearning that this book entailed. If someone could make a sapphic cover of evermore, I’d be eternally grateful! I loved loved loved that the magical beings around the castle well forest really were animals and all sorts of “ugly not really as loved animals too” like barn owls and bats! The Gaston character was a little weak but I enjoyed how the author redid him for the most part but that’s why it wasn’t a full 5 stars for me but man this book was incredible and I’m sad I took so long to read it!
July 24, 2021
Thank you to Feed the Writer Press via Netgalley for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own
Rating: 3.5/5 stars!
The MIsadventures of an Amateur Naturalist is a great sapphic Beauty and the Beast retelling. I really liked Celeste as a main character. She was brave, smart and very likeable. Throughout the story we see her overcome many obstacles but she always stayed true to herself. I liked learning about the Beast's back story and how she came to be a Beast. I did enjoy Celeste and the beast's relationship but I did not like how they only got to interact at the 50% mark. However, the relationship did feel genuine and you could see the connection between the two love interests. I really enjoyed the author's writing style and I felt as though the whole book was very well developed. I would recommend this book to fans of the Historical romance genre!
Rating: 3.5/5 stars!
The MIsadventures of an Amateur Naturalist is a great sapphic Beauty and the Beast retelling. I really liked Celeste as a main character. She was brave, smart and very likeable. Throughout the story we see her overcome many obstacles but she always stayed true to herself. I liked learning about the Beast's back story and how she came to be a Beast. I did enjoy Celeste and the beast's relationship but I did not like how they only got to interact at the 50% mark. However, the relationship did feel genuine and you could see the connection between the two love interests. I really enjoyed the author's writing style and I felt as though the whole book was very well developed. I would recommend this book to fans of the Historical romance genre!
September 27, 2022
I don’t think I have ever loved a retelling more than this. The way the original concept was woven into this story was perfect. I loved Celeste and felt like she was a strong female character. I definitely enjoyed the slow romance between her and the beast. I always appreciate a sapphic retelling of the story too!
Representation: sapphic characters and romance
Representation: sapphic characters and romance
December 19, 2021
4.5 stars
This started off a bit slowly but once Celeste arrived at the chateau it was amazeballs and I. Could. Not. Put. It. Down.
This started off a bit slowly but once Celeste arrived at the chateau it was amazeballs and I. Could. Not. Put. It. Down.
December 16, 2021
Me gustó pero me quedó a deber
August 19, 2021
I read this book in one sitting.
Okay, that’s a lie. I started this book last night, fell asleep when I couldn’t keep my eyes open any longer, and then rolled over this morning and picked it up again immediately. I got halfway through the book before I placed a pre-order for the hardcover copy (releasing on September 1, 2021!). Every cup of tea I made to drink while I read The Misadventures of an Amateur Naturalist went cold, because I could not for the life of me stop reading for long enough to drink them.
Did Ceinwen Langley look into my brain and create a book specifically designed for me and everyone like me – namely, people with excellent taste? I think so. The Misadventures of an Amateur Naturalist is full to the brim of gutsy women who make bold choices, who go after their own happiness with both hands. It’s got monster women. It’s got smart women. It’s got… everything I could ever want.
If I had to classify this book, I would call it historical romance fiction with a dollop of fantasy. If you look at it askance, it’s a lesbian retelling of Beauty and the Beast. Which – I’m already on board with. Even if that was all you told me, I would be all over it like a rash. But this book is so much more than that.
The Misadventures of an Amateur Naturalist tells the story of Celeste, a young, wealthy French woman who dreams of attending science spectaculars and learning alongside the greatest minds of her generation. She’s a naturalist, she studies animals and insects and other things besides, and she has great dreams of travelling the world, learning everything there is to know. But her father is keeping a secret from her, and that secret is big enough to destroy all her hopes – until she is proposed to by the perfect man. Except she doesn’t love him. She doesn’t love any man.
Girl, same.
So she escapes. She runs, straight into the den of a beast, unlike any she or anyone else has ever seen before. Do you see where I’m going with this?
This book is so well-written and the characters are so wonderfully fleshed-out that I truly felt like I was experiencing everything alongside them. I adore Celeste and admire her bold and brave choices. The conversation between her and the beast were a perfect dance – I would have read chapter upon chapter of their banter.
I will say this - the book starts slow. The main action of the story doesn't really start until halfway through the book. But, to me, that is not a negative. I got a solid introduction to Celeste and her family and friends, her past, and her story. She is, after all, the reason I wanted to keep reading. I think her tale will resonate with a lot of people who don't fit the way society wants them to fit.
There is so much heart in the pages of this book, and it’s definitely a story I will read again and again. The Misadventures of an Amateur Naturalist has wormed its way into my favourites shelf and I am absolutely beseeching you to give it a read. You will not be disappointed. Five glowing, shining stars.
Thank you to NetGalley and Feed the Writer Press for providing me with this ARC.
Okay, that’s a lie. I started this book last night, fell asleep when I couldn’t keep my eyes open any longer, and then rolled over this morning and picked it up again immediately. I got halfway through the book before I placed a pre-order for the hardcover copy (releasing on September 1, 2021!). Every cup of tea I made to drink while I read The Misadventures of an Amateur Naturalist went cold, because I could not for the life of me stop reading for long enough to drink them.
Did Ceinwen Langley look into my brain and create a book specifically designed for me and everyone like me – namely, people with excellent taste? I think so. The Misadventures of an Amateur Naturalist is full to the brim of gutsy women who make bold choices, who go after their own happiness with both hands. It’s got monster women. It’s got smart women. It’s got… everything I could ever want.
If I had to classify this book, I would call it historical romance fiction with a dollop of fantasy. If you look at it askance, it’s a lesbian retelling of Beauty and the Beast. Which – I’m already on board with. Even if that was all you told me, I would be all over it like a rash. But this book is so much more than that.
The Misadventures of an Amateur Naturalist tells the story of Celeste, a young, wealthy French woman who dreams of attending science spectaculars and learning alongside the greatest minds of her generation. She’s a naturalist, she studies animals and insects and other things besides, and she has great dreams of travelling the world, learning everything there is to know. But her father is keeping a secret from her, and that secret is big enough to destroy all her hopes – until she is proposed to by the perfect man. Except she doesn’t love him. She doesn’t love any man.
Girl, same.
So she escapes. She runs, straight into the den of a beast, unlike any she or anyone else has ever seen before. Do you see where I’m going with this?
This book is so well-written and the characters are so wonderfully fleshed-out that I truly felt like I was experiencing everything alongside them. I adore Celeste and admire her bold and brave choices. The conversation between her and the beast were a perfect dance – I would have read chapter upon chapter of their banter.
I will say this - the book starts slow. The main action of the story doesn't really start until halfway through the book. But, to me, that is not a negative. I got a solid introduction to Celeste and her family and friends, her past, and her story. She is, after all, the reason I wanted to keep reading. I think her tale will resonate with a lot of people who don't fit the way society wants them to fit.
There is so much heart in the pages of this book, and it’s definitely a story I will read again and again. The Misadventures of an Amateur Naturalist has wormed its way into my favourites shelf and I am absolutely beseeching you to give it a read. You will not be disappointed. Five glowing, shining stars.
Thank you to NetGalley and Feed the Writer Press for providing me with this ARC.
June 29, 2021
This was delightful. I think this is by far my favorite retelling of Beauty and the Beast. It has taken notes of the original fairytale but woven them into something original and fascinating.
This is a sapphic historical retelling of Beauty and the Beast but with some significant changes (gender aside), Celeste the main character is a highly enthusiastic amateur naturalist who wants more than anything to travel the world studying animals. However, family circumstances put a damper on that dream and she ends up lost in the forest and with a mysterious 'beast' in an abandoned castle.
Celeste was a brilliant main character. I loved her narrative and way of looking at the world and how she unrelentlessly went after what she wanted and wasn't ashamed of it. The Beast was also an interesting character as was The Owl and essentially every character mentioned, even the ones who were barely in it felt well-rounded and interesting. I really appreciated the character of Etienne, who took a sharp left turn from his counterpart in the original story and it was fascinating and really fitted the story.
I adored the ending, I think it fitted the novel incredibly well but do wish we'd gotten to see a few more adventures.
I really loved this book and would be keen to read more from this author.
I revieved an ARC of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This is a sapphic historical retelling of Beauty and the Beast but with some significant changes (gender aside), Celeste the main character is a highly enthusiastic amateur naturalist who wants more than anything to travel the world studying animals. However, family circumstances put a damper on that dream and she ends up lost in the forest and with a mysterious 'beast' in an abandoned castle.
Celeste was a brilliant main character. I loved her narrative and way of looking at the world and how she unrelentlessly went after what she wanted and wasn't ashamed of it. The Beast was also an interesting character as was The Owl and essentially every character mentioned, even the ones who were barely in it felt well-rounded and interesting. I really appreciated the character of Etienne, who took a sharp left turn from his counterpart in the original story and it was fascinating and really fitted the story.
I adored the ending, I think it fitted the novel incredibly well but do wish we'd gotten to see a few more adventures.
I really loved this book and would be keen to read more from this author.
I revieved an ARC of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
August 4, 2021
I'm definitely going to struggle to write a coherent review for this book because HOLY HELL it was perfect. This story kept me hooked for days, completely addicted to its gripping, mysterious and emotional twists and turns. A perfect mix of hearty historical fiction and swoon-worthy-slow-burn romance, this fresh take on Beauty and the Beast ticked all my boxes (and made some fresh ones which I will now demand of every book I read henceforth).
Langley's writing is superb throughout, layering gorgeous descriptive prose with insanely quick wit. I savoured the stunning depictions of the glorious abandoned mansion, the winding, claustrophobic forests and the insanely tangible descriptions of the animals.
My favourite character was the Beast, mainly her dialogue was written so incredibly well. The descriptions of her expressions while making some of the funniest quips in the book were legendary. Langley brought Celeste to life in every conceivable way; her character made sense to me. Celeste is deeply selfish, naive and does some dumb stuff but it all makes complete sense for her to make the decisions she does. I loved her, rooted for her and related to her so strongly.
I would recommend this STUNNING book to anyone who wants a mysterious, escapist novel but doesn't want to work hard for it. Langley has done ALL the work here, all you have to do is snuggle up and be swept away.
Thank you so so much to Ceinwen Langley and to NetGalley for this e-arc, I'm eternally grateful!
Langley's writing is superb throughout, layering gorgeous descriptive prose with insanely quick wit. I savoured the stunning depictions of the glorious abandoned mansion, the winding, claustrophobic forests and the insanely tangible descriptions of the animals.
My favourite character was the Beast, mainly her dialogue was written so incredibly well. The descriptions of her expressions while making some of the funniest quips in the book were legendary. Langley brought Celeste to life in every conceivable way; her character made sense to me. Celeste is deeply selfish, naive and does some dumb stuff but it all makes complete sense for her to make the decisions she does. I loved her, rooted for her and related to her so strongly.
I would recommend this STUNNING book to anyone who wants a mysterious, escapist novel but doesn't want to work hard for it. Langley has done ALL the work here, all you have to do is snuggle up and be swept away.
Thank you so so much to Ceinwen Langley and to NetGalley for this e-arc, I'm eternally grateful!
January 7, 2024
Unexpectedly fun!
I picked this up on the recommendation of a friend and wasn't sure exactly what to expect from it. I'm glad to say that I actually really enjoyed this - not least because I somehow missed the brief that this is a sapphic Beauty & the Beast retelling, and who doesn't love that?! What an excellent surprise that was for me.
Things really take a turn (in a good and exciting way) after about the 30% mark - up until then this was a historical romance-ish book, with a free-spirited young lady doing her best to make her mark in a man's world. But once you hit that point in the story, all bets are off and the plot rapidly reforms into something far more feminist, far more intriguing and much more mysterious.
I'm a sucker for a Beauty & the Beast retelling, and I'd definitely rate it up there for me. It's the first sapphic retelling of this tale I've read, and my favourite part of the whole story was the strong, female empowerment vibes (particularly from Eloise and Bridgette's story) and how refreshing that felt. Up until now, I've most read retellings that simply make the 'Belle' of the story badass and good at using weapons. So this, as I said, was refreshing.
Hats off to Langley for producing a really well-rounded and pacy book, as doing so as an independent author makes this accomplishment that much more impressive.
I picked this up on the recommendation of a friend and wasn't sure exactly what to expect from it. I'm glad to say that I actually really enjoyed this - not least because I somehow missed the brief that this is a sapphic Beauty & the Beast retelling, and who doesn't love that?! What an excellent surprise that was for me.
Things really take a turn (in a good and exciting way) after about the 30% mark - up until then this was a historical romance-ish book, with a free-spirited young lady doing her best to make her mark in a man's world. But once you hit that point in the story, all bets are off and the plot rapidly reforms into something far more feminist, far more intriguing and much more mysterious.
I'm a sucker for a Beauty & the Beast retelling, and I'd definitely rate it up there for me. It's the first sapphic retelling of this tale I've read, and my favourite part of the whole story was the strong, female empowerment vibes (particularly from Eloise and Bridgette's story) and how refreshing that felt. Up until now, I've most read retellings that simply make the 'Belle' of the story badass and good at using weapons. So this, as I said, was refreshing.
Hats off to Langley for producing a really well-rounded and pacy book, as doing so as an independent author makes this accomplishment that much more impressive.
August 5, 2021
i LOVED this book, so much!! it’s my new favourite book. it’s the sapphic fairy tale that i just wish i had as a child, i know i’d have read it over and over dreaming of the day i could meet my own bridgette. thank you for making my little sapphic heart glow with your beautiful writing. it was perfectly crafted 🥰
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