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Bestial
Yvaine was once a spoiled child reigning terror on her parents and servants alike until an enchantress changed her into a creature whose bestial form matches her beastly nature. Beau is a young man of singular beauty and virtue who must look after his family when misfortune brings them into a ruin of their own making. Beau and Yvaine’s ill-fated paths will meet, and they will change each other irrevocably. But how can love last when lovers change beyond recognition? This is the story of a Beauty and a Beast, only not as you know it. Set in a pre-revolutionary France where magic abounds, the tale does not end with the Beast’s transformation. In many ways, it is only the beginning…
- GenresFantasyFairy Tales
352 pages, Paperback
Published September 7, 16
1 person is currently reading
30 people want to read
About the author
Arielle K. Harris
3 books4 followersArielle K Harris spent her formative years in Scotland, which has irreversibly confused her accent and spelling conventions. Lately she has returned to her hometown in Massachusetts, where she finished her first novel, Bestial, and is raising her young son. Arielle writes stories which focus on the human experience through the lens of fantasy, posing questions about reality through the means of unreality.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
March 11, 2019
A sadly colossal mess of a novel, that doesn't even know what it wants to be and ends up losing the plot as a result. I understand the author is a first-timer, and it shows in the worst of ways as her book ticks all the boxes that scream "novice writer": defective proof-reading that results in typos, editing that leaves a lot to be desired, very poor story structuring and development that results in wacky and plotholey storytelling, flawed characterisation that results in unstable characters, poor writing... Seriously, I can't find something to praise here as hard as I'm trying to! Maybe the plot premise, but it isn't even that original: genderbent Beauty and the Beast is old news by now.
The premise is attractive enough if you only look at the summary in the blurb: a princess is cursed to become a beast and she'll only recover her humanity once she can get someone to love her. Basic B&B plotline here, it leaves plenty of room to create your own spin on the curse and how it can be solved. But you have to know where you want to take your story first, and weave the twists into it accordingly. Unfortunately, the author doesn't seem to know and she wanders round, throwing a lot of extraneous and unnecessary elements and tales/myths simply because she doesn't know how to weave a story. In the beginning, when the princess is born to her infertile royal parents, it looks a bit too much "Sleeping Beauty" to me, but as I thought it was a nice nod, I didn't mind. But then, the princess is spoilt rotten by ineffectual and weak parents, growing up to be an odious brat, so odious she mistreats and old woman, who's really and enchantress, that curses her for her rudeness. Sounds familiar? Yes, that's the Disney version of how the curse came to be, minus the extenuating circumstance that in the Disney film the prince was a child and here the princess is an adult and a narcissistic prima donna.
From there up to the middle of the book, the story is decent, even interesting, mostly because the princess-turned-monster seems to be learning to be a better person and also because of the boy who enters her life and changes her world. Harris could have written a very good story here, had she continued exploring the damage done the princess by her extremely pampered and indisciplined upbringing as well as the growing bond with the boy, with all its positive effects. But instead, the author seems to have thought this was lacking in fake angst and fake drama, for she forces a separation through the Mother of All Insane Twists, which completely erases the point of the princess' curse and any good intentions the enchantress had. From there on, the story is complete idiocy, so much so that the author appears desperate to cram in every single tale she can think of: there's a weird appearance by Bluebeard (yes, he of the seven wives), a weird appearance by Diana/Artemis (yes, the hunt goddess of the Greeks/Romans), etc., etc. So many foreign elements brough in kicking and screaming just for a few pages and then dispatched from the storyline by axe. Literally and figuratively, because the author fights her way out of her self-inflicted plot messes by actual beheadings. That's when I give up on authors who don't know either how to write or how to plot.
The premise is attractive enough if you only look at the summary in the blurb: a princess is cursed to become a beast and she'll only recover her humanity once she can get someone to love her. Basic B&B plotline here, it leaves plenty of room to create your own spin on the curse and how it can be solved. But you have to know where you want to take your story first, and weave the twists into it accordingly. Unfortunately, the author doesn't seem to know and she wanders round, throwing a lot of extraneous and unnecessary elements and tales/myths simply because she doesn't know how to weave a story. In the beginning, when the princess is born to her infertile royal parents, it looks a bit too much "Sleeping Beauty" to me, but as I thought it was a nice nod, I didn't mind. But then, the princess is spoilt rotten by ineffectual and weak parents, growing up to be an odious brat, so odious she mistreats and old woman, who's really and enchantress, that curses her for her rudeness. Sounds familiar? Yes, that's the Disney version of how the curse came to be, minus the extenuating circumstance that in the Disney film the prince was a child and here the princess is an adult and a narcissistic prima donna.
From there up to the middle of the book, the story is decent, even interesting, mostly because the princess-turned-monster seems to be learning to be a better person and also because of the boy who enters her life and changes her world. Harris could have written a very good story here, had she continued exploring the damage done the princess by her extremely pampered and indisciplined upbringing as well as the growing bond with the boy, with all its positive effects. But instead, the author seems to have thought this was lacking in fake angst and fake drama, for she forces a separation through the Mother of All Insane Twists, which completely erases the point of the princess' curse and any good intentions the enchantress had. From there on, the story is complete idiocy, so much so that the author appears desperate to cram in every single tale she can think of: there's a weird appearance by Bluebeard (yes, he of the seven wives), a weird appearance by Diana/Artemis (yes, the hunt goddess of the Greeks/Romans), etc., etc. So many foreign elements brough in kicking and screaming just for a few pages and then dispatched from the storyline by axe. Literally and figuratively, because the author fights her way out of her self-inflicted plot messes by actual beheadings. That's when I give up on authors who don't know either how to write or how to plot.
February 14, 2017
On Valentine’s Day, I am reviewing this tale of troubled love. Warning: contains spoilers.
As the mother of a teenage daughter, I have been aware of a cultural undercurrent around fairy tales for many years. Is Beauty and the Beast about domestic violence? Is Twilight about creepy stalker control freak boyfriends that suck the life out of girls? Are they all too much about the value of women’s physical beauty and traditional heteronormative gender roles?
Although I never banned any of these stories from our home, I do consider the original story of Beauty and the Beast to be problematic, so I was interested to see what would come of reversing the genders of the two main protagonists and following their journey beyond “happily ever after." Would I like it better that way? Would it be better for women?
The answer here was surprisingly, yes and no. Yes because the girl/beast Yvaine becomes the real protagonist of the story and its most compelling character. After the retelling of the original plot, Yvaine goes on a quest, makes friends, solves riddles, confronts magical creatures, and comes into her own as a kick-ass fighter. The writing in this story is especially lovely too, and it carries the reader along, making this a smooth, if not simple, read.
But the answer is also No, because in spite of the action, I found it a little too subtle and meandering. I enjoyed both halves of the book but they didn’t seem to have enough to do with each other to keep them in the same novel. It starts out as the story of Beau and Desire and their family, and one by one all of these characters fall away, their motivations inexplicable. The Beau of the second half was virtually unrecognizable to me as the Beau of the first half. Perhaps the loss of his twin brother played some role in his loss of character? The Devil is mentioned, and given the calamities that befall this family, his dark power may have a greater hand in events than is explicitly described. Or not. That’s the problem: I’m not sure.
There were other red herrings too, in addition to Beau’s unexpected and confusing behavior. Fitcher? The Devil? The mouse? The riddles? The mundane reason for Yvaine's initial enchantment as told from the witch’s point of view? All were enjoyable to read but a bit of a grab bag. There was also a surprising amount of hacking and chopping and killing with axes. This is definitely a Grimm fairly tale, not a Disney one, and it has the feel of something out of another time, or a dream.
At first, I felt it ended too abruptly, and found this frustrating. But days later, the story continued to nag at me and stay with me. I wondered what Yvaine, more powerful alone than she ever was with Beau, would do next. I imagined her taking flight. I was reminded of Twilight at its best, in which the heroine also comes into her own power with a startling transformation. This isn’t your mother’s, or your daughter’s fairy tale, but it is one of the most thought-provoking I’ve read in the genre.
As the mother of a teenage daughter, I have been aware of a cultural undercurrent around fairy tales for many years. Is Beauty and the Beast about domestic violence? Is Twilight about creepy stalker control freak boyfriends that suck the life out of girls? Are they all too much about the value of women’s physical beauty and traditional heteronormative gender roles?
Although I never banned any of these stories from our home, I do consider the original story of Beauty and the Beast to be problematic, so I was interested to see what would come of reversing the genders of the two main protagonists and following their journey beyond “happily ever after." Would I like it better that way? Would it be better for women?
The answer here was surprisingly, yes and no. Yes because the girl/beast Yvaine becomes the real protagonist of the story and its most compelling character. After the retelling of the original plot, Yvaine goes on a quest, makes friends, solves riddles, confronts magical creatures, and comes into her own as a kick-ass fighter. The writing in this story is especially lovely too, and it carries the reader along, making this a smooth, if not simple, read.
But the answer is also No, because in spite of the action, I found it a little too subtle and meandering. I enjoyed both halves of the book but they didn’t seem to have enough to do with each other to keep them in the same novel. It starts out as the story of Beau and Desire and their family, and one by one all of these characters fall away, their motivations inexplicable. The Beau of the second half was virtually unrecognizable to me as the Beau of the first half. Perhaps the loss of his twin brother played some role in his loss of character? The Devil is mentioned, and given the calamities that befall this family, his dark power may have a greater hand in events than is explicitly described. Or not. That’s the problem: I’m not sure.
There were other red herrings too, in addition to Beau’s unexpected and confusing behavior. Fitcher? The Devil? The mouse? The riddles? The mundane reason for Yvaine's initial enchantment as told from the witch’s point of view? All were enjoyable to read but a bit of a grab bag. There was also a surprising amount of hacking and chopping and killing with axes. This is definitely a Grimm fairly tale, not a Disney one, and it has the feel of something out of another time, or a dream.
At first, I felt it ended too abruptly, and found this frustrating. But days later, the story continued to nag at me and stay with me. I wondered what Yvaine, more powerful alone than she ever was with Beau, would do next. I imagined her taking flight. I was reminded of Twilight at its best, in which the heroine also comes into her own power with a startling transformation. This isn’t your mother’s, or your daughter’s fairy tale, but it is one of the most thought-provoking I’ve read in the genre.
September 14, 2016
A very intriguing take on the old Beauty and the Beast story. More than just a simple reboot with the gender roles reversed, this book goes beyond the basic plotline everybody is already familiar with and answers the question, "what's next?" The characters take on a life of their own as the story evolves into something much more unique.
The writing is really beautiful. I'm hoping for a follow up, maybe a sequel following the same characters? Or maybe a prequel spin-off for Diana? Or more in-depth coverage of Desiré's journeys?
The writing is really beautiful. I'm hoping for a follow up, maybe a sequel following the same characters? Or maybe a prequel spin-off for Diana? Or more in-depth coverage of Desiré's journeys?
December 5, 2016
I really enjoyed this retelling of beauty and the beast. It was looked at in a really clever and intelligent way and I am so pleased to have read it. It was an intriguing insight into the story, and gave me food for thought I didn't get from the original. A worthwhile read for anyone who likes a fairy story turned on its head.
May 21, 2025
At first glance, Bestial promises a fresh twist on the classic Beauty and the Beast tale, with its intriguing premise of a princess cursed to become a beast until someone falls in love with her. However, much like its protagonist, the novel struggles to find its footing and ultimately stumbles into a tangled mess of half-baked ideas and poor execution.
The story begins with potential—a royal curse, a spoiled princess, and the looming prospect of a transformative journey. But as the narrative unfolds, it quickly becomes clear that Harris doesn't quite know where she's headed. The plot is overly ambitious, throwing in so many random elements and side characters that they feel more like distractions than essential parts of the story. From Bluebeard to Artemis, these moments feel shoehorned in as though the author is trying to stuff as many fairy-tale references into the narrative as possible, without ever tying them together in a coherent way.
While the transformation of the princess-turned-monster, Yvaine, initially holds some promise, Harris seems more interested in forced drama than in allowing the character to evolve naturally. A major plot twist midway through feels more like an attempt to inject "fake angst" than a well-thought-out story development, undermining the earlier emotional growth and rendering the curse's premise almost irrelevant.
Characterization is another major flaw. Yvaine's journey, which could have been one of self-discovery, is instead marred by inconsistent writing and an erratic shift in focus. The relationship dynamics, particularly between Yvaine and Beau, lack depth and fail to engage the reader on a meaningful level. At times, the characters seem more like plot devices than real people, their motivations unclear or unconvincing. This lack of clarity leaves the reader unable to fully invest in their struggles, and the stakes never feel high enough to justify the bizarre narrative choices that Harris makes.
The writing itself is a mixed bag. While there are moments of beauty, particularly in the descriptions of Yvaine’s transformation, these are too often overshadowed by awkward phrasing and sloppy editing. There are numerous typos and inconsistent pacing, which only adds to the sense that this is a first draft rather than a finished product.
Bestial tries to be more than just a retelling, but its lack of direction and overcomplicated plot make it hard to appreciate. What could have been an exploration of identity and love instead becomes a chaotic, overly ambitious narrative that doesn’t quite hit the mark. Fans of the Beauty and the Beast mythos may find it hard to ignore the missed opportunities here, and while the book has moments of potential, it ultimately fails to deliver on its intriguing premise.
In short, Bestial is a book full of promise but lacking in execution. Harris has the bones of an interesting story, but this first attempt feels rushed and unpolished.
The story begins with potential—a royal curse, a spoiled princess, and the looming prospect of a transformative journey. But as the narrative unfolds, it quickly becomes clear that Harris doesn't quite know where she's headed. The plot is overly ambitious, throwing in so many random elements and side characters that they feel more like distractions than essential parts of the story. From Bluebeard to Artemis, these moments feel shoehorned in as though the author is trying to stuff as many fairy-tale references into the narrative as possible, without ever tying them together in a coherent way.
While the transformation of the princess-turned-monster, Yvaine, initially holds some promise, Harris seems more interested in forced drama than in allowing the character to evolve naturally. A major plot twist midway through feels more like an attempt to inject "fake angst" than a well-thought-out story development, undermining the earlier emotional growth and rendering the curse's premise almost irrelevant.
Characterization is another major flaw. Yvaine's journey, which could have been one of self-discovery, is instead marred by inconsistent writing and an erratic shift in focus. The relationship dynamics, particularly between Yvaine and Beau, lack depth and fail to engage the reader on a meaningful level. At times, the characters seem more like plot devices than real people, their motivations unclear or unconvincing. This lack of clarity leaves the reader unable to fully invest in their struggles, and the stakes never feel high enough to justify the bizarre narrative choices that Harris makes.
The writing itself is a mixed bag. While there are moments of beauty, particularly in the descriptions of Yvaine’s transformation, these are too often overshadowed by awkward phrasing and sloppy editing. There are numerous typos and inconsistent pacing, which only adds to the sense that this is a first draft rather than a finished product.
Bestial tries to be more than just a retelling, but its lack of direction and overcomplicated plot make it hard to appreciate. What could have been an exploration of identity and love instead becomes a chaotic, overly ambitious narrative that doesn’t quite hit the mark. Fans of the Beauty and the Beast mythos may find it hard to ignore the missed opportunities here, and while the book has moments of potential, it ultimately fails to deliver on its intriguing premise.
In short, Bestial is a book full of promise but lacking in execution. Harris has the bones of an interesting story, but this first attempt feels rushed and unpolished.
February 19, 2017
Fantastic fairytale with lots of twists and turns
This debut novel was a wonderful read. It had all the magic of a traditional fairytale but had so many twists and turns it kept me guessing right up to the last few pages. I if you're looking for a modern fairytale that you can't put down I would definitely recommend Bestial.
This debut novel was a wonderful read. It had all the magic of a traditional fairytale but had so many twists and turns it kept me guessing right up to the last few pages. I if you're looking for a modern fairytale that you can't put down I would definitely recommend Bestial.
March 30, 2017
Almost is a good description of this story. It feels unfinished and I have so many questions about the characters. Who was the mouse? What happened to Desiree? What became of the parents? Why is good so frequently punished?
I almost gave this three stars, but realized I cannot judge this by my disappointment at the way it ended. There is art here.
The author pulled me through the story, consistently teasing me with unexpected twists. She made me feel a full range of emotions, including wanting to throw my Kindle across the room at the end. She explored every relationship: romantic, parental, fraternal, employee, friendship...all with the assumption that if a mistake can be made, humans are most likely to choose willy-nilly to make it, which she included with much Grimm-like finger shaking.
Unlike most fairy tales, she refused to gloss over the consequences of magic, and I applaud her for that. I only wish she would have remembered that hope is a human truth, too, especially in readers of fairy tales, and it was only almost present.
The lesson is about relationship with the self, but you don't realize it until the end. If she had just written a few more paragraphs, she was so close, almost evoking empowerment in the reader, but the abrupt ending and remaining questions left me feeling this book only almost reached its potential. That said, it's definitely worth buying and reading.
I almost gave this three stars, but realized I cannot judge this by my disappointment at the way it ended. There is art here.
The author pulled me through the story, consistently teasing me with unexpected twists. She made me feel a full range of emotions, including wanting to throw my Kindle across the room at the end. She explored every relationship: romantic, parental, fraternal, employee, friendship...all with the assumption that if a mistake can be made, humans are most likely to choose willy-nilly to make it, which she included with much Grimm-like finger shaking.
Unlike most fairy tales, she refused to gloss over the consequences of magic, and I applaud her for that. I only wish she would have remembered that hope is a human truth, too, especially in readers of fairy tales, and it was only almost present.
The lesson is about relationship with the self, but you don't realize it until the end. If she had just written a few more paragraphs, she was so close, almost evoking empowerment in the reader, but the abrupt ending and remaining questions left me feeling this book only almost reached its potential. That said, it's definitely worth buying and reading.
April 30, 2017
I do like this book, even though I found the writing a little... quiet... does that make sense? Anyway, I loved seeing multiple stories all rolled into one,and the ending was really REALLY unexpected. Like, WOW. I enjoyed it, and definitely recommend it to EVERYONE. Or anyone that that doesn't mind a bit of blood or gore in their stories.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews