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Beaumont and Beasley #1
The Beast of Talesend
Fairy tales aren’t real. Private detective Nick Beasley knows that. This is 1922 E.A. (Ever After), an age of big cities, automobiles, and airships. Nobody in the Afterlands believes in magic and monsters anymore. Especially not Nick, who’s made a name for himself in the city of Talesend by debunking fraudulent “magical” phenomena.
But when a misadventure with alleged enchantress Lady Cordelia Beaumont goes awry, leaving Nick with claws, a tail, and quite a lot of fur, he begins to rethink his stance on magic.
There’s only one way for Nick to regain his humanity. He and Cordelia will have to retrieve a powerful magical artifact from a ruthless crime lord—who happens to be Cordelia’s father. Otherwise, Nick won’t be the only monster roaming through Talesend.
The fate of the Afterlands lies in the hands of a renegade enchantress and an extremely hairy detective. What could possibly go wrong?
But when a misadventure with alleged enchantress Lady Cordelia Beaumont goes awry, leaving Nick with claws, a tail, and quite a lot of fur, he begins to rethink his stance on magic.
There’s only one way for Nick to regain his humanity. He and Cordelia will have to retrieve a powerful magical artifact from a ruthless crime lord—who happens to be Cordelia’s father. Otherwise, Nick won’t be the only monster roaming through Talesend.
The fate of the Afterlands lies in the hands of a renegade enchantress and an extremely hairy detective. What could possibly go wrong?
Audiobook
First published January 16, 2017
About the author
Kyle Robert Shultz
41 books156 followersKyle Robert Shultz is the creator of the Aftermythos, an interconnected collection of stories set in an alternate universe where fairy tales and mythology are history. Shultz is a completely ordinary human being with no remarkable qualities whatsoever. Accounts suggesting that he is a dangerous wizard exiled from a parallel reality, a cleverly-disguised magical creature passing off the history of another world as original fiction, a mysterious trickster entity described in the folklore of a circumscribed region of Wales, or a pseudonym adopted by three talking otters stacked up in a trench coat should be dismissed as not entirely accurate.
Note: I'm not active on Goodreads, so I may not see messages or other notifications. I only use this profile for business, so don't be offended if I don't accept your friend request. If you want to get in touch with me, email me at kyle@aftermythos.com.
Note: I'm not active on Goodreads, so I may not see messages or other notifications. I only use this profile for business, so don't be offended if I don't accept your friend request. If you want to get in touch with me, email me at kyle@aftermythos.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 137 reviews
August 27, 2017
This book was such a pleasant surprise. It's exactly the sort of story I've been searching for. Crisp dialogue, action-packed plot, laugh-out-loud humor, and a fresh take on classic fairy tales. I can't wait to find out what happens in Book 2; I'm sure it will be very exciting.
DISCLAIMER: I am personally acquainted with the author, though I wouldn't describe us as close friends. We say hello when we meet; that's about it. He's always struck me as a rather likable fellow, but I know very little about him aside from the fact that he's incredibly good-looking. My moderately positive opinion of him, however, has had no bearing whatsoever upon this totally impartial review of his book, which you should buy and read right now because it's awesome.
DISCLAIMER: I am personally acquainted with the author, though I wouldn't describe us as close friends. We say hello when we meet; that's about it. He's always struck me as a rather likable fellow, but I know very little about him aside from the fact that he's incredibly good-looking. My moderately positive opinion of him, however, has had no bearing whatsoever upon this totally impartial review of his book, which you should buy and read right now because it's awesome.
August 4, 2024
Second reread December 2021, five stars
This book keeps getting better and better.
UPDATED REVIEW (first reread July 2021, five stars):
I absolutely adore this series. My opinions from my original review are the same overall, but upon rereading The Beast of Talesend, I’m upping my rating from four to five stars. This is an entirely enjoyable beginning to a brilliant series that I recommend to everyone I know.
ORIGINAL REVIEW (first read May 2021, four stars):
Hilarious. Twisted. Intriguing.
After having this book recommended to me numerous times by some good friends (you know who you are! *waves*), I was finally able to snag a copy. And oh, my goodness, what a ride it was. I seriously can’t believe that I hadn’t read any of this author’s books before; they are amazing. And they have jumped to my list of all time favorite books.
The Beaumont and Beasley series is absolutely brilliant: a “continuation” of fairy tales and classic fantasy stories that takes place in a Roaring 20s sort of setting. Yeah. It’s brilliant. (How many times am I going to call this author brilliant? Many.) This first book in the series is a Beauty and the Beast “sequel,” and it introduces several of my favorite characters.
Nick and Cordelia and Crispin are fantastic. I LOVE the banter and the snark and the brotherly relationship and the growing platonic friendships (one of which seems like it may develop into something more someday, hmm?). You can tell that the author loves his characters; it’s obvious that he took the time to meticulously flesh them out and make them memorable. I absolutely adored them all: grumpy and sarcastic Nick, impulsive and classy Cordelia, and hyper, optimistic Crispin.
Although I did love this book, Whitlock was a bit underwhelming to me; he struck me as a typical power-hungry villain who monologues and wants to take over the world. There were also a couple grammatical/syntax errors that slightly distracted me, although they were not very prevalent at all.
If you haven’t heard of this series, or if you’ve heard about it countless times but haven’t gotten a copy yet (which was the case with me), then what are you waiting for? Seriously, if I haven’t convinced you that this series is at the same time brilliant, hilarious, intriguing, and full of heart, read it for yourself. I bet you’ll enjoy it. :)
Content: mild violence, mention of a dalliance, magic (very fairy-tale-ish)
This book keeps getting better and better.
UPDATED REVIEW (first reread July 2021, five stars):
I absolutely adore this series. My opinions from my original review are the same overall, but upon rereading The Beast of Talesend, I’m upping my rating from four to five stars. This is an entirely enjoyable beginning to a brilliant series that I recommend to everyone I know.
ORIGINAL REVIEW (first read May 2021, four stars):
Hilarious. Twisted. Intriguing.
After having this book recommended to me numerous times by some good friends (you know who you are! *waves*), I was finally able to snag a copy. And oh, my goodness, what a ride it was. I seriously can’t believe that I hadn’t read any of this author’s books before; they are amazing. And they have jumped to my list of all time favorite books.
The Beaumont and Beasley series is absolutely brilliant: a “continuation” of fairy tales and classic fantasy stories that takes place in a Roaring 20s sort of setting. Yeah. It’s brilliant. (How many times am I going to call this author brilliant? Many.) This first book in the series is a Beauty and the Beast “sequel,” and it introduces several of my favorite characters.
Nick and Cordelia and Crispin are fantastic. I LOVE the banter and the snark and the brotherly relationship and the growing platonic friendships (one of which seems like it may develop into something more someday, hmm?). You can tell that the author loves his characters; it’s obvious that he took the time to meticulously flesh them out and make them memorable. I absolutely adored them all: grumpy and sarcastic Nick, impulsive and classy Cordelia, and hyper, optimistic Crispin.
Although I did love this book, Whitlock was a bit underwhelming to me; he struck me as a typical power-hungry villain who monologues and wants to take over the world. There were also a couple grammatical/syntax errors that slightly distracted me, although they were not very prevalent at all.
If you haven’t heard of this series, or if you’ve heard about it countless times but haven’t gotten a copy yet (which was the case with me), then what are you waiting for? Seriously, if I haven’t convinced you that this series is at the same time brilliant, hilarious, intriguing, and full of heart, read it for yourself. I bet you’ll enjoy it. :)
Content: mild violence, mention of a dalliance, magic (very fairy-tale-ish)
July 24, 2019
I wasn’t sure what to expect when I opened this book. The C.S. Lewis quote was definitely a good sign. Follow that up with a fantastic blend of Sherlock Holmes and fairytales, Doctor Who-esque rash decisions (that somehow half worked out), and downright perfect humor, and it was a winner. (Please don’t let me comparing it to many other things fool you--this book is really unlike anything else.)
I loved the setting, and Nick’s general outlook/personality. He and Crispin were hilarious, and I laughed aloud at their brotherly arguments. (Also, I pictured him as a monster to be a lot like Kitty from Monsters, Inc. I knew he was supposed to be scarier than that, but still…) Cordelia was delightfully unpredictable as well, and the three of them made for a delightful adventure.
I didn’t prefer the scenes with the wraith or the techniques of the charmbloods, but I appreciated the portrayal of magical things being double-edged and dangerous.
Just a note, there was one used of “blasted” and some descriptions of blood.
Best quotes: I crossed my arms and gave him a disapproving look. “Remember the stern discussion you and I had yesterday?” He gave me a puzzled frown. “Which one? We have so many.” I pointed to his patent-leather shoes. “Feet. Desk. Off. Forever.”
“Thanks, but I’ve already been shot once today. It didn’t take.”
Altogether, I’d take another one of these in a heartbeat. So much fun. XD
Also, who else SCREAMED internally at the epilogue??
I loved the setting, and Nick’s general outlook/personality. He and Crispin were hilarious, and I laughed aloud at their brotherly arguments. (Also, I pictured him as a monster to be a lot like Kitty from Monsters, Inc. I knew he was supposed to be scarier than that, but still…) Cordelia was delightfully unpredictable as well, and the three of them made for a delightful adventure.
I didn’t prefer the scenes with the wraith or the techniques of the charmbloods, but I appreciated the portrayal of magical things being double-edged and dangerous.
Just a note, there was one used of “blasted” and some descriptions of blood.
Best quotes: I crossed my arms and gave him a disapproving look. “Remember the stern discussion you and I had yesterday?” He gave me a puzzled frown. “Which one? We have so many.” I pointed to his patent-leather shoes. “Feet. Desk. Off. Forever.”
“Thanks, but I’ve already been shot once today. It didn’t take.”
Altogether, I’d take another one of these in a heartbeat. So much fun. XD
Also, who else SCREAMED internally at the epilogue??
August 8, 2020
FAN-MADE BOOK TRAILER HERE: https://youtu.be/EI8jT-eo_Ts
(In advance, I apologize for the strong overuse of exclamation marks. Tis a fangirl's favorite punctuation mark.)
Oh. My. Goodness! What an incredibly fun and great book!
I loved Nick right from the beginning and my fondness for him only grows as the story progresses. He was such the gentleman, even as a monster! I greatly can't wait to see where his story will go and as he learns more about the world of magic. (That one scene though! Gave me such a big grin and made my heart happy.)
Secondly, I just loved everything about this book. Seriously. It was a fast-paced read and it seems even faster when you're reading about fairy tales you THOUGHT you knew, only to find out that maybe as Nick says in the very beginning is true. Plus, the places they visit and the "people" (I say that very loosely) they met were simply fascinating and engaging.
If you love fairy tales, be sure to pick up this book! It is going to take you off your feet like a magic carpet into another world that is epic! (Probably because it's told by the amazing Nick with his lovely companion Lady Cordelia.)
Can't wait to read what happens next!
(In advance, I apologize for the strong overuse of exclamation marks. Tis a fangirl's favorite punctuation mark.)
Oh. My. Goodness! What an incredibly fun and great book!
I loved Nick right from the beginning and my fondness for him only grows as the story progresses. He was such the gentleman, even as a monster! I greatly can't wait to see where his story will go and as he learns more about the world of magic. (That one scene though! Gave me such a big grin and made my heart happy.)
Secondly, I just loved everything about this book. Seriously. It was a fast-paced read and it seems even faster when you're reading about fairy tales you THOUGHT you knew, only to find out that maybe as Nick says in the very beginning is true. Plus, the places they visit and the "people" (I say that very loosely) they met were simply fascinating and engaging.
If you love fairy tales, be sure to pick up this book! It is going to take you off your feet like a magic carpet into another world that is epic! (Probably because it's told by the amazing Nick with his lovely companion Lady Cordelia.)
Can't wait to read what happens next!
December 31, 2018
Re-read September 2018
Still awesome and hilarious and my favorite. XD
Re-read (listened to the audiobook) September 2017
Read my audiobook review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Original Review, May 2017
Beauty and the Beast + 1920s detective story + alternate history where all the fairytales were, well... actual history + snark + humor + lovable and entirely unconventional characters = The Beast of Talesend by Kyle Robert Shultz, a.k.a. The Book You Need To Read Right Now.
Not convinced? LET ME CONVINCE YOU. Ahem. (Fangirling may ensue. You have been warned.)
10 THINGS I LOVE ABOUT THIS BOOK
1. IT’S SO FUNNY. OH MY GOODNESS. I love books that make me laugh and make me want to quote them to the world, and if there’s one thing this book did extremely well, it was that. It did other things extremely well too, which I will get to, but MY GOODNESS, THE HUMOR. XD (Even the chapter titles are funny.)
2. NICK. It’s told in first-person by Nick Beasley, private detective, whose self-appointed goal in life/job is debunking magical cases and proving that magic doesn’t exist. (Which... is kind of awkward when he gets turned into a beast. ...Not a spoiler, it’s in the blurb, and mentioned on the first page. XD) NICK IS THE BEST. I don’t often care for first-person, but his narration absolutely made the book. IT WAS PERFECT. And he has such a dry-humor, kind of grumpy personality, and is the last sort of person you’d think of as a hero, but he’s actually super noble underneath, despite his grouchiness, and overprotective of his younger brother, Crispin, and just—NICK IS GREAT, OKAY. I love him and he’s awesome. :D
3. CRISPIN. Oh my goodness, CRISPIN. He is definitely one of my top fave things. :D He and Nick have this great brother dynamic where Nick won’t let Crispin do anything and acts like he’s super young (they’re both in their twenties. XD) but Crispin has more going than Nick thinks, and they banter sometimes and Crispin is just absolutely funny and adorable and the best. :D (The part about the feet on the desk! XD *dies laughing*) Just just just CRISPIIIIIIN! <3 All that needs to be said on the subject. I just loved this character! ^_^ (And I’m beyond ecstatic that he will be in the sequel more. YES. These brothers! <3)
4. Setting + Alternate + Fairytales. THIS WAS WONDERFUL. It’s set in an alternate world, very much like ours in London (their version of London is called Talesend) in the 1920s buuuut... different. Like, where our fairytales are their actual history, and the story is set in the 20th Century E.A. (Ever After), give-or-take 1900 years after the end of the last fairytale... (or is it??). There are so many references to these fairytales, just woven casually into historical references and conversation, which was BRILLIANT and so so much fun, and that on top of it being a loose retelling of Beauty and the Beast absolutely made my day. :D I LOVE alternate history, and fairytales, and old-detective-stories and just... THIS MIXED THEM SO WELL. <3 (Plus, any story with a shady possible-gangster-crime-boss-who-deals-in-magical-artifacts has got to be good. I mean really. Let’s mix all the genre things and make it glorious. :D)
5. Lady Cordelia, a magical but also magical-accident-prone and eccentric (putting it too lightly; she’s nutty, but delightfully so) but capable woman, was a fairly fun character as well, especially when paired off against Nick, since they don’t always see eye-to-eye. :P (I mean... that would be difficult in any case, seeing as he’s a seven-foot monster and she’s just a presumably-normal-sized young lady, but still.)
6. THE BANTER AND CHARACTER DYNAMICS AND THE HUMOR. I know I mentioned humor before, BUT IT’S IMPORTANT OKAY. I can’t say enough about books that are this funny, because humor just makes me happy, and life is too short not to laugh copiously. Which is why books like this exist to help us with that. I love the dialog and interactions and narration and just aaaall the funny things! But it’s got intense bits and action and danger and twisty plot things all mixed in with the hilarity, which makes it even more impressive.
7. Can I just say how awesome this author’s writing is? LIKE SERIOUSLY. If all the above is not enough to convince you, just consider that all this wackiness is utterly seamlessly thrown together and well-written and just please can I be this good of an author when I grow up. The writing is gold! Actually this whole book is gold. Just— So so good.
8. Not to mention, this is a super fun, clean, family-friendly read. So awesome, am I right? Other than some scary Beasts (comes with it being a retelling of... well... Beauty and the Beast...) and slight scariness/intense wrapup, I don’t recall anything that younger readers should steer clear of. It was just delightful all-around! :)
9. I’m pretty sure... yep, I can’t think of anything, so I will say: There is nothing I don’t like about this book! Yes, that can be one of the things I like about it, that there’s nothing I dislike. This is my review, so my rules, so I will write it how I want. XD
10. It’s fairly short, which means that I read it in an afternoon, so that was nice—even if I would have wanted it to go FOREVER because I want to keep reading this glorious hilarity! But that’s not actually a con, because fortunately this is only the first in a series, so I’m going to get to read more adventures of the Brothers Beasley and Lady Cordelia and this hilarious fairytale-mashup world AND I CAN’T WAIT AAAAHHH! (No seriously, I can’t wait. Where is the next book? I NEED IT NOW. *flails* *pouts because I have to wait till it comes out*)
Conclusion:
READ THIS BOOK.
(I will say nothing more about it because I do not want to spoil its amazingness. But go read it. Honestly. It’s that good. In fact, it’s better.)
(Review originally posted HERE: https://thepagedreamer.wordpress.com/...)
Still awesome and hilarious and my favorite. XD
Re-read (listened to the audiobook) September 2017
Read my audiobook review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Original Review, May 2017
Beauty and the Beast + 1920s detective story + alternate history where all the fairytales were, well... actual history + snark + humor + lovable and entirely unconventional characters = The Beast of Talesend by Kyle Robert Shultz, a.k.a. The Book You Need To Read Right Now.
Not convinced? LET ME CONVINCE YOU. Ahem. (Fangirling may ensue. You have been warned.)
10 THINGS I LOVE ABOUT THIS BOOK
1. IT’S SO FUNNY. OH MY GOODNESS. I love books that make me laugh and make me want to quote them to the world, and if there’s one thing this book did extremely well, it was that. It did other things extremely well too, which I will get to, but MY GOODNESS, THE HUMOR. XD (Even the chapter titles are funny.)
2. NICK. It’s told in first-person by Nick Beasley, private detective, whose self-appointed goal in life/job is debunking magical cases and proving that magic doesn’t exist. (Which... is kind of awkward when he gets turned into a beast. ...Not a spoiler, it’s in the blurb, and mentioned on the first page. XD) NICK IS THE BEST. I don’t often care for first-person, but his narration absolutely made the book. IT WAS PERFECT. And he has such a dry-humor, kind of grumpy personality, and is the last sort of person you’d think of as a hero, but he’s actually super noble underneath, despite his grouchiness, and overprotective of his younger brother, Crispin, and just—NICK IS GREAT, OKAY. I love him and he’s awesome. :D
3. CRISPIN. Oh my goodness, CRISPIN. He is definitely one of my top fave things. :D He and Nick have this great brother dynamic where Nick won’t let Crispin do anything and acts like he’s super young (they’re both in their twenties. XD) but Crispin has more going than Nick thinks, and they banter sometimes and Crispin is just absolutely funny and adorable and the best. :D (The part about the feet on the desk! XD *dies laughing*) Just just just CRISPIIIIIIN! <3 All that needs to be said on the subject. I just loved this character! ^_^ (And I’m beyond ecstatic that he will be in the sequel more. YES. These brothers! <3)
4. Setting + Alternate + Fairytales. THIS WAS WONDERFUL. It’s set in an alternate world, very much like ours in London (their version of London is called Talesend) in the 1920s buuuut... different. Like, where our fairytales are their actual history, and the story is set in the 20th Century E.A. (Ever After), give-or-take 1900 years after the end of the last fairytale... (or is it??). There are so many references to these fairytales, just woven casually into historical references and conversation, which was BRILLIANT and so so much fun, and that on top of it being a loose retelling of Beauty and the Beast absolutely made my day. :D I LOVE alternate history, and fairytales, and old-detective-stories and just... THIS MIXED THEM SO WELL. <3 (Plus, any story with a shady possible-gangster-crime-boss-who-deals-in-magical-artifacts has got to be good. I mean really. Let’s mix all the genre things and make it glorious. :D)
5. Lady Cordelia, a magical but also magical-accident-prone and eccentric (putting it too lightly; she’s nutty, but delightfully so) but capable woman, was a fairly fun character as well, especially when paired off against Nick, since they don’t always see eye-to-eye. :P (I mean... that would be difficult in any case, seeing as he’s a seven-foot monster and she’s just a presumably-normal-sized young lady, but still.)
6. THE BANTER AND CHARACTER DYNAMICS AND THE HUMOR. I know I mentioned humor before, BUT IT’S IMPORTANT OKAY. I can’t say enough about books that are this funny, because humor just makes me happy, and life is too short not to laugh copiously. Which is why books like this exist to help us with that. I love the dialog and interactions and narration and just aaaall the funny things! But it’s got intense bits and action and danger and twisty plot things all mixed in with the hilarity, which makes it even more impressive.
7. Can I just say how awesome this author’s writing is? LIKE SERIOUSLY. If all the above is not enough to convince you, just consider that all this wackiness is utterly seamlessly thrown together and well-written and just please can I be this good of an author when I grow up. The writing is gold! Actually this whole book is gold. Just— So so good.
8. Not to mention, this is a super fun, clean, family-friendly read. So awesome, am I right? Other than some scary Beasts (comes with it being a retelling of... well... Beauty and the Beast...) and slight scariness/intense wrapup, I don’t recall anything that younger readers should steer clear of. It was just delightful all-around! :)
9. I’m pretty sure... yep, I can’t think of anything, so I will say: There is nothing I don’t like about this book! Yes, that can be one of the things I like about it, that there’s nothing I dislike. This is my review, so my rules, so I will write it how I want. XD
10. It’s fairly short, which means that I read it in an afternoon, so that was nice—even if I would have wanted it to go FOREVER because I want to keep reading this glorious hilarity! But that’s not actually a con, because fortunately this is only the first in a series, so I’m going to get to read more adventures of the Brothers Beasley and Lady Cordelia and this hilarious fairytale-mashup world AND I CAN’T WAIT AAAAHHH! (No seriously, I can’t wait. Where is the next book? I NEED IT NOW. *flails* *pouts because I have to wait till it comes out*)
Conclusion:
READ THIS BOOK.
(I will say nothing more about it because I do not want to spoil its amazingness. But go read it. Honestly. It’s that good. In fact, it’s better.)
(Review originally posted HERE: https://thepagedreamer.wordpress.com/...)
June 19, 2017
Full review time!
In a nutshell: The Beast of Talesend had me smiling from cover to cover. Normally I don't like retellings because (in my personal opinion) I think they lack novelty. Kind of like eating stir-fried leftovers. HOWEVER, that is NOT the case with this book. I kept forgetting it was a retelling at all. It's not a long read, but Kyle Shultz manages to pack so much fun in the pages, it's really astounding. It had some Artemis Fowl vibes as well, which is always a plus.
What I wasn't so fond of:
No book is perfect, but man, I'm REALLY nit-picking here...
- Whitlock felt a bit generic as a villain. The classic megalomaniac obsessed with power. BUT this is a fairy tale retelling, so let's keep some perspective. Fairy tale villain's gonna villain, right?
- The magic is kind of vague. Not in a lazy way at all, just in an "I'm not sure how it works" sense. This is definitely personal preference, since I'm not super keen on magic most of the time, and when I do read it, I normally prefer there to be clear rules and boundaries, a la Paolini. HOWEVER, and I say it again, this is in no way detrimental to the plot or the writing. It's just personal opinion.
What I loved *cracks knuckles*
Everything
Okay but seriously:
- The dialog. The gloriously witty, smooth, effortless dialog.
- Crispin. My goodness, this character.
- Cordelia's personality and just everything about the way she behaves. She's potentially the most complex character, imo.
- The chapter titles. Can I steal some of Shultz's genius, pretty please?
- The protagonist's POV and how everything is seen through this dry, witty, proper, gentlemanly lense.
The Beast of Talesend more than earns every single one of the five stars I give it. Highly recommended as a lighthearted, fun-filled read for lovers of classic magic-based fantasy and adventure.
In a nutshell: The Beast of Talesend had me smiling from cover to cover. Normally I don't like retellings because (in my personal opinion) I think they lack novelty. Kind of like eating stir-fried leftovers. HOWEVER, that is NOT the case with this book. I kept forgetting it was a retelling at all. It's not a long read, but Kyle Shultz manages to pack so much fun in the pages, it's really astounding. It had some Artemis Fowl vibes as well, which is always a plus.
What I wasn't so fond of:
No book is perfect, but man, I'm REALLY nit-picking here...
- Whitlock felt a bit generic as a villain. The classic megalomaniac obsessed with power. BUT this is a fairy tale retelling, so let's keep some perspective. Fairy tale villain's gonna villain, right?
- The magic is kind of vague. Not in a lazy way at all, just in an "I'm not sure how it works" sense. This is definitely personal preference, since I'm not super keen on magic most of the time, and when I do read it, I normally prefer there to be clear rules and boundaries, a la Paolini. HOWEVER, and I say it again, this is in no way detrimental to the plot or the writing. It's just personal opinion.
What I loved *cracks knuckles*
Everything
Okay but seriously:
- The dialog. The gloriously witty, smooth, effortless dialog.
- Crispin. My goodness, this character.
- Cordelia's personality and just everything about the way she behaves. She's potentially the most complex character, imo.
- The chapter titles. Can I steal some of Shultz's genius, pretty please?
- The protagonist's POV and how everything is seen through this dry, witty, proper, gentlemanly lense.
The Beast of Talesend more than earns every single one of the five stars I give it. Highly recommended as a lighthearted, fun-filled read for lovers of classic magic-based fantasy and adventure.
January 20, 2018
Loved it! Review coming soon!
July 7, 2017
I mean it's Peter Pan, and part of the Beaumont and Beasley world, so what else could it be but awesome? (Also it kind of really messed up my childhood, but in the best of ways). xD
Merged review:
This is one of those reads that is just so. Much. Fun. It was a fast-paced Beauty and the Beast retelling, filled with memorable new characters and witty dialogue (I'll elaborate more on that in a minute). Also, the world they lived in and the magic system was so fully realized—they were very well thought out.
So. I have to admit I've never read a retelling of any fairytale before, but I loved it. Nick, the main character, is so dead-set on disproving magic and uncovering frauds, that when he is actually transformed into a Beast, he doesn't realize it. He thinks he's having a very elaborate dream—or maybe hallucination, because magic isn't real, so it can't be anything else. (He takes some convincing, let me tell you).
His brother, Crispin, on the other hand, is the comic-relief type character, a nice contrast to Nick's unwavering no-nonsense sensibility. And Cordelia, oh my goodness. Her methods may be slightly insane at times, but in the best of ways.
And then we come to the dialogue and the chapter titles—both of which were witty and oftentimes funny. I used the highlighter function in the Kindle app more than I ever have before, because so much of it was golden. The dialogue made me laugh out loud more than once, and grin almost constantly. For example:
"I thought you were going out tonight,” I said, giving him a puzzled frown. “With that blonde girl, what was her name…” I snapped my fingers, trying to remember.
"Sally,” said Crispin, sounding as if it pained him to talk about her. “We finished our dinner early.”
"I see.”
"Tell me, Nick—”
I groaned. “Please don’t start asking me for advice again.”
"—when a woman asks you what you think of her new hairdo, and tells you to be honest, should you be honest?”
"No,” I replied, without hesitation. “Never.”
And also:
I shook my head in disbelief. “Your father has fallen into an ancient dungeon, and you just want to leave him there? What if he’s hurt? Or dead?”
"He’s remarkably resilient,” said Cordelia. “And besides, he’d be the first one to tell us that the mission comes first.” She gingerly stepped over to my paving stone. “So, shall we continue?”
Whitlock shouted something from below, but I couldn’t quite make it out.
"You see?” said Cordelia brightly. “He’s fine. Let’s go.” She bent over the paving-stone and called down to him. “Be right back, Father!”
"If you insist,” I said slowly, frowning. Lady Cordelia Beaumont was beginning to scare me. Just a little.
Another thing I loved was how many fairytales and legends were mentioned, as well as incorporated into the story. At first they come in as examples of nonsense, but after Nick realizes that magic is indeed real, they're history. I also thought it interesting that the story of Beauty and the Beast had actually happened before Nick's time (though differently than you've probably heard before). If I was rewriting a fairytale, I'm not sure it would occur to me to keep the old one in the timeline as well.
So, all in all, a very enjoyable read, and I'm eagerly awaiting the sequel!
Merged review:
This is one of those reads that is just so. Much. Fun. It was a fast-paced Beauty and the Beast retelling, filled with memorable new characters and witty dialogue (I'll elaborate more on that in a minute). Also, the world they lived in and the magic system was so fully realized—they were very well thought out.
So. I have to admit I've never read a retelling of any fairytale before, but I loved it. Nick, the main character, is so dead-set on disproving magic and uncovering frauds, that when he is actually transformed into a Beast, he doesn't realize it. He thinks he's having a very elaborate dream—or maybe hallucination, because magic isn't real, so it can't be anything else. (He takes some convincing, let me tell you).
His brother, Crispin, on the other hand, is the comic-relief type character, a nice contrast to Nick's unwavering no-nonsense sensibility. And Cordelia, oh my goodness. Her methods may be slightly insane at times, but in the best of ways.
And then we come to the dialogue and the chapter titles—both of which were witty and oftentimes funny. I used the highlighter function in the Kindle app more than I ever have before, because so much of it was golden. The dialogue made me laugh out loud more than once, and grin almost constantly. For example:
"I thought you were going out tonight,” I said, giving him a puzzled frown. “With that blonde girl, what was her name…” I snapped my fingers, trying to remember.
"Sally,” said Crispin, sounding as if it pained him to talk about her. “We finished our dinner early.”
"I see.”
"Tell me, Nick—”
I groaned. “Please don’t start asking me for advice again.”
"—when a woman asks you what you think of her new hairdo, and tells you to be honest, should you be honest?”
"No,” I replied, without hesitation. “Never.”
And also:
I shook my head in disbelief. “Your father has fallen into an ancient dungeon, and you just want to leave him there? What if he’s hurt? Or dead?”
"He’s remarkably resilient,” said Cordelia. “And besides, he’d be the first one to tell us that the mission comes first.” She gingerly stepped over to my paving stone. “So, shall we continue?”
Whitlock shouted something from below, but I couldn’t quite make it out.
"You see?” said Cordelia brightly. “He’s fine. Let’s go.” She bent over the paving-stone and called down to him. “Be right back, Father!”
"If you insist,” I said slowly, frowning. Lady Cordelia Beaumont was beginning to scare me. Just a little.
Another thing I loved was how many fairytales and legends were mentioned, as well as incorporated into the story. At first they come in as examples of nonsense, but after Nick realizes that magic is indeed real, they're history. I also thought it interesting that the story of Beauty and the Beast had actually happened before Nick's time (though differently than you've probably heard before). If I was rewriting a fairytale, I'm not sure it would occur to me to keep the old one in the timeline as well.
So, all in all, a very enjoyable read, and I'm eagerly awaiting the sequel!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 28, 2017
The Beast of Talesend is book #1 in the Beaumont and Beasley series and is, essentially, a Beauty and the Beast retelling…sorta.
Imagine a 1920s detective-story and then set it in a world where fairytales aren’t just stories…they’re the world’s history. Add a heaping cup of humor, loveable (and hilarious) characters, magic, and a downright fun ride of a plot, and you’ve got yourself this book.
Yeah. Everyone needs to read it.
It’s written in first person, which isn’t always my favorite but I honestly couldn’t imagine this story any other way. Being inside our main character’s—Nick Beasley’s—head and having his dry witted narration made the story.
Speaking of which…
CHARACTERS
Oh my gracious goodness, THE CHARACTERS. I just want them all to be my best friends.
Nick: As I said, Nick is our main character and narrator and AGH. I just couldn’t handle his dry wit. He’s a skeptic about the whole “fairytales and magic are real thing”. The world has moved on from that, and he’s made it his career to prove there is no such thing as magic via his detective agency. So when he gets turned into a beast (not spoilers, it’s right there in the blurb), well…he’s a little taken aback, to say the least. My favorite thing about him is how he just takes everything in stride in a pessimistic, longsuffering way. His whole mentality is basically, “Oh…I’ve been turned into a beast and everything I believe is completely wrong. Well, that’s just great.” He’s so calm and logical and pessimistic about things. I absolutely loved being inside his head and seeing his reactions to all the insanity that happened to him. Poor Nick…
Cordelia: Lady Beaumont…excuse me, Lady Cordelia is one of my FAVORITE types of characters. The first time we see her she’s throwing a roll at someone because she can’t stand their silly hat. And…that basically describes Cordelia through and through. She’s one of those whimsically chaotic beans where you just never know what they’re going to do next. And she is the perfect balance of being totally fiery and sassy but still has a good heart. I completely and totally adored this girl. Oh, and she’s also magic. So yes. She’s epic. And then you toss this wild girl with the logical Nick and ooooh the fun dynamics. Literally one of my top favorite character dynamics in fiction EVER. I LOVED THEMMM.
Crispin: CRISPIN. CRISPINNNNN. Probably my favorite character. Because CRISPIN. He’s Nick’s younger brother (though everyone in this book is in their 20s, just FYI), and he’s a riot. Where Nick is the more stern, logical type, Crispin is fun, happy-go-lucky, optimistic, and rather flighty. Sadly, his part isn’t too big in this book. (Thankfully, he plays a much bigger role in the sequel, The Tomb of the Sea Witch.) But he’s still there enough to make you fall in love with him. He’s just adorable!
All of these characters were so fun and unique. I say Crispin is my favorite but…I think I love them all equally. And they’re amazing just themselves, but then you throw them all together with their utterly different personalities, and you have one of the most fun casts I’ve ever read about. I want to be part of the Lady Beaumont and Brothers Beasley team!
OTHER THINGS I LOVED
-THE WORLD, GUYS. It’s set in an alternative version of London in a 1920s detective-style setting. Which I’ve always loved, but then turn that it into a world with fairytales and HELLO ONE OF MY NEW FAVORITE BOOKS OF ALL TIME. It was just a blast how so much of the world’s history was based off of fairytales. Buuut the fairytales may not have played out as everyone thinks. *wriggles eyebrows* The magic system was also very fun and cleverly done. I just utterly adored the very 1920’s-esque setting with crime bosses and detectives and all that classic stuff MIXED with magic and fairytales. It worked so well!
-HUMOR. HUMOR EVERYWHERE. This was honest to goodness one of the funniest books I’ve ever read in my life. I was constantly bursting out loud with laughter. The narration is hilarious, the characters are hilarious, the plot itself had some completely hilarious parts. Just…THE HUMOR. Basically every other sentence was quotable in this book.
-The plot itself. It’s not all just laughs. Oh no. There’s some seriously epic and complex stuff going on. Some Beauty and the Beast stuff, some magical artifacts, some gangsters, some end of the world threats. Fun times, fun times. I especially liked a bit involving a magic mirror because I have this weird obsession with magical mirrors in fiction (I don’t even know why, there are just so many fun things you can do with it). And that was a huge part of the plot which made me super happy. IT WAS SO EPIC. The whole thing was action-packed and a wild and amazing ride from page one to the end.
-The whole mix of the fairytales being set in one world. There were sooo many references to different fairytales and things. The way they were woven into the world was brilliance. I’m allllll about fairytale crossovers, please and thank you.
-THE EPILOGUE. Which gave promises of one of my other top favorite stories playing a role in later books. BUT THAT’S ALL I’M SAYIN’ *zips lips* But like I said, soooo many epic crossovers.
THINGS I DIDN’T LOVE
HA. Do you think I actually have any complaints? Noooo! Seriously, this book was borderline perfect. Which is something for me to say because I am a picky reader and usually always have something to whine about. But this story was like all of my favorite things wrapped into one.
Oookay, I do actually have one mild complaint. It was super short. 126 pages total—practically novella size. And I much prefer more lengthy books. But, honestly, this somehow managed to be in depth and give us enough time with the characters to completely fall in love with them. So the short length worked. Buuut I could spend eternity with these characters so even if it was an 800-page monster I’d still probably be complaining it was too short. XD
Fortunately, it’s just book #1 of a whole series so we definitely get more of the Beasleys and Lady Beaumont and their crazy adventures. THANK GOODNESS.
THE AUDIOBOOK
Not only did I read the book, but I also listened to the audiobook…just a few months after reading the book. Which I ain’t complainin’ about one little bit! I was honestly considering a reread of the book already because it’s just THAT GOOD. So getting the audiobook was perfect, because it was a way to immerse myself in the story again but in a fresh way.
And ooooh my goodness. THIS AUDIOBOOK.
Firstly, it’s narrated by a British guy. Which that alone will make you want to listen to it. But he also does all the characters’ voices, and it’s so fun! The voice fit the story perfectly. A lighthearted fairytale like this just calls for a British voice doing all the voices. It really brought the story to life in a whole new way.
What I really loved about it was how calming it was. It felt like a parent reading to their child before bed. Fun but calming at the same time. I always felt so relaxed during my listens. I discovered it was the perfect stress reliever.
Then there was the way the epilogue was done. It gave me chills, in the best way possible. Buuut you’ll just have to get the audiobook to know what I’m talking about. *cackles*
But seriously, if you’re into audiobooks or just like to be read to and need something to relieve stress, I highly recommend this audiobook. It was so good!
CONTENT CAUTIONS
Not a thing. This book was perfectly clean and family-friendly. There was a good bit of action and a smidge of violence, but nothing too graphic. Just typical fantasy violence. I’m perfectly comfortable recommending this to any and all ages. And I AM. I firmly believe young ones, teens, and adults alike would adore this story. It’s one of those stories I can’t really categorize into any age genre. It’s lighthearted, so good for young ones. But the characters are in their twenties, so perfect for the slightly older crowd. I don’t know. JUST READ IT.
CONCLUSION
If you’re into fairytales, 1920s settings, humor, amazing characters, or just want a quick and lighthearted read, THIS ONE’S FOR YOU. It’s clean, it’s hilarious, it’s got deep characters and a fun plot. There’s just nothing not to love!
Buuuut really, I could have skipped all this talk and just summed up this whole review in one sentence: EVERYONE SHOULD READ THIS BOOK.
(Note: I received a free digital copy of the audiobook from the author in exchange for an honest review.)
Review originally posted on my blog:
http://musingsofanelf.blogspot.com/2017/08/book-and-audiobook-review-beast-of.html
Imagine a 1920s detective-story and then set it in a world where fairytales aren’t just stories…they’re the world’s history. Add a heaping cup of humor, loveable (and hilarious) characters, magic, and a downright fun ride of a plot, and you’ve got yourself this book.
Yeah. Everyone needs to read it.
It’s written in first person, which isn’t always my favorite but I honestly couldn’t imagine this story any other way. Being inside our main character’s—Nick Beasley’s—head and having his dry witted narration made the story.
Speaking of which…
CHARACTERS
Oh my gracious goodness, THE CHARACTERS. I just want them all to be my best friends.
Nick: As I said, Nick is our main character and narrator and AGH. I just couldn’t handle his dry wit. He’s a skeptic about the whole “fairytales and magic are real thing”. The world has moved on from that, and he’s made it his career to prove there is no such thing as magic via his detective agency. So when he gets turned into a beast (not spoilers, it’s right there in the blurb), well…he’s a little taken aback, to say the least. My favorite thing about him is how he just takes everything in stride in a pessimistic, longsuffering way. His whole mentality is basically, “Oh…I’ve been turned into a beast and everything I believe is completely wrong. Well, that’s just great.” He’s so calm and logical and pessimistic about things. I absolutely loved being inside his head and seeing his reactions to all the insanity that happened to him. Poor Nick…
Cordelia: Lady Beaumont…excuse me, Lady Cordelia is one of my FAVORITE types of characters. The first time we see her she’s throwing a roll at someone because she can’t stand their silly hat. And…that basically describes Cordelia through and through. She’s one of those whimsically chaotic beans where you just never know what they’re going to do next. And she is the perfect balance of being totally fiery and sassy but still has a good heart. I completely and totally adored this girl. Oh, and she’s also magic. So yes. She’s epic. And then you toss this wild girl with the logical Nick and ooooh the fun dynamics. Literally one of my top favorite character dynamics in fiction EVER. I LOVED THEMMM.
Crispin: CRISPIN. CRISPINNNNN. Probably my favorite character. Because CRISPIN. He’s Nick’s younger brother (though everyone in this book is in their 20s, just FYI), and he’s a riot. Where Nick is the more stern, logical type, Crispin is fun, happy-go-lucky, optimistic, and rather flighty. Sadly, his part isn’t too big in this book. (Thankfully, he plays a much bigger role in the sequel, The Tomb of the Sea Witch.) But he’s still there enough to make you fall in love with him. He’s just adorable!
All of these characters were so fun and unique. I say Crispin is my favorite but…I think I love them all equally. And they’re amazing just themselves, but then you throw them all together with their utterly different personalities, and you have one of the most fun casts I’ve ever read about. I want to be part of the Lady Beaumont and Brothers Beasley team!
OTHER THINGS I LOVED
-THE WORLD, GUYS. It’s set in an alternative version of London in a 1920s detective-style setting. Which I’ve always loved, but then turn that it into a world with fairytales and HELLO ONE OF MY NEW FAVORITE BOOKS OF ALL TIME. It was just a blast how so much of the world’s history was based off of fairytales. Buuut the fairytales may not have played out as everyone thinks. *wriggles eyebrows* The magic system was also very fun and cleverly done. I just utterly adored the very 1920’s-esque setting with crime bosses and detectives and all that classic stuff MIXED with magic and fairytales. It worked so well!
-HUMOR. HUMOR EVERYWHERE. This was honest to goodness one of the funniest books I’ve ever read in my life. I was constantly bursting out loud with laughter. The narration is hilarious, the characters are hilarious, the plot itself had some completely hilarious parts. Just…THE HUMOR. Basically every other sentence was quotable in this book.
-The plot itself. It’s not all just laughs. Oh no. There’s some seriously epic and complex stuff going on. Some Beauty and the Beast stuff, some magical artifacts, some gangsters, some end of the world threats. Fun times, fun times. I especially liked a bit involving a magic mirror because I have this weird obsession with magical mirrors in fiction (I don’t even know why, there are just so many fun things you can do with it). And that was a huge part of the plot which made me super happy. IT WAS SO EPIC. The whole thing was action-packed and a wild and amazing ride from page one to the end.
-The whole mix of the fairytales being set in one world. There were sooo many references to different fairytales and things. The way they were woven into the world was brilliance. I’m allllll about fairytale crossovers, please and thank you.
-THE EPILOGUE. Which gave promises of one of my other top favorite stories playing a role in later books. BUT THAT’S ALL I’M SAYIN’ *zips lips* But like I said, soooo many epic crossovers.
THINGS I DIDN’T LOVE
HA. Do you think I actually have any complaints? Noooo! Seriously, this book was borderline perfect. Which is something for me to say because I am a picky reader and usually always have something to whine about. But this story was like all of my favorite things wrapped into one.
Oookay, I do actually have one mild complaint. It was super short. 126 pages total—practically novella size. And I much prefer more lengthy books. But, honestly, this somehow managed to be in depth and give us enough time with the characters to completely fall in love with them. So the short length worked. Buuut I could spend eternity with these characters so even if it was an 800-page monster I’d still probably be complaining it was too short. XD
Fortunately, it’s just book #1 of a whole series so we definitely get more of the Beasleys and Lady Beaumont and their crazy adventures. THANK GOODNESS.
THE AUDIOBOOK
Not only did I read the book, but I also listened to the audiobook…just a few months after reading the book. Which I ain’t complainin’ about one little bit! I was honestly considering a reread of the book already because it’s just THAT GOOD. So getting the audiobook was perfect, because it was a way to immerse myself in the story again but in a fresh way.
And ooooh my goodness. THIS AUDIOBOOK.
Firstly, it’s narrated by a British guy. Which that alone will make you want to listen to it. But he also does all the characters’ voices, and it’s so fun! The voice fit the story perfectly. A lighthearted fairytale like this just calls for a British voice doing all the voices. It really brought the story to life in a whole new way.
What I really loved about it was how calming it was. It felt like a parent reading to their child before bed. Fun but calming at the same time. I always felt so relaxed during my listens. I discovered it was the perfect stress reliever.
Then there was the way the epilogue was done. It gave me chills, in the best way possible. Buuut you’ll just have to get the audiobook to know what I’m talking about. *cackles*
But seriously, if you’re into audiobooks or just like to be read to and need something to relieve stress, I highly recommend this audiobook. It was so good!
CONTENT CAUTIONS
Not a thing. This book was perfectly clean and family-friendly. There was a good bit of action and a smidge of violence, but nothing too graphic. Just typical fantasy violence. I’m perfectly comfortable recommending this to any and all ages. And I AM. I firmly believe young ones, teens, and adults alike would adore this story. It’s one of those stories I can’t really categorize into any age genre. It’s lighthearted, so good for young ones. But the characters are in their twenties, so perfect for the slightly older crowd. I don’t know. JUST READ IT.
CONCLUSION
If you’re into fairytales, 1920s settings, humor, amazing characters, or just want a quick and lighthearted read, THIS ONE’S FOR YOU. It’s clean, it’s hilarious, it’s got deep characters and a fun plot. There’s just nothing not to love!
Buuuut really, I could have skipped all this talk and just summed up this whole review in one sentence: EVERYONE SHOULD READ THIS BOOK.
(Note: I received a free digital copy of the audiobook from the author in exchange for an honest review.)
Review originally posted on my blog:
http://musingsofanelf.blogspot.com/2017/08/book-and-audiobook-review-beast-of.html
August 22, 2018
AUDIOBOOK REVIEW
(Review originally posted here: https://thepagedreamer.wordpress.com/...)
I have flailed elsewhere (see link at end) about how much I love this book, and this time I’m here to talk about the absolutely delightful audiobook version.
I remember thinking, when I heard about the audio version, that The Beast of Talesend would make a positively fantastic audiobook. Add to that a British narrator and the levels of fantastic go through the roof. Fast-forward to my ecstatic reaction when the author offered me a chance to listen to the audiobook and review it. I gladly accepted, started listening to it right away, and . . . Oh, was I ever NOT disappointed!
The light, fun, humorous, fairytale quality of this book, makes it the perfect audiobook, and the Britishness reminded me of my favorite audiobooks from when I was younger. The Beast of Talesend audiobook is perfection. :D
I don’t listen to audiobooks often these days (though I used to). They’re not always convenient for me, and these days I generally prefer to absorb stories through physically reading printed words with my eyes, you know? Otherwise my mind can wander and I miss important details, which drives me up the wall. (Not through the roof. Through the roof is a good thing in this case; up the wall isn’t.) I have listened to many audiobooks over time, but don’t as much anymore, except in extreme cases of really, really wanting to listen to one for some reason. Like this one.
In this case, the reasons were twofold: 1) I already had read The Beast of Talesend and loved it and wanted to re-read it anyway (never mind that it was only three months since I read it the first time), and 2) I listened to a sample and the narrator has a fabulous British accent.
I’m one of those shallow (erm, that is, blessed with good taste. *cough*) people who absolutely loves accents, and as an American who primarily lives in fictional worlds created by authors from the British Isles, accents which are English, Irish, Scottish, etc., are my favorites. Mr. Richard “Spanners” Ready has a fabulous British accent which was so fun to listen to, and that alone would have made this audiobook splendid.
HOWEVER, he’s also an amazing narrator, and the book was a delight to hear read by this fellow. He does different voices for all the characters, which was SO fun, and some with different accents as well. His narration as Nick Beasley (the main character who tells the story in a somewhat dry and totally funny way) was brilliant, and for some reason I particularly liked his depiction of Cordelia—she was spot-on! Actually, all the characters were. THEY WERE AMAZING! The acting/performance brought the story and characters to vivid life, and I simply LOVED that! It was like watching a movie… just… you know… listening to it instead. In a way, this is better, because you get the audio-drama quality BUT can still imagine everything appearing the way your imagination wants to paint it. And this narrator’s way of bringing the characters to life only adds to that. :) He drew out so much of the character interactions, drama, excitement, and humor in the BEST way. It was fantastic and so fun!
Narrator quality varies in audiobooks, and I would say there are lots who are okay or even good, but not so many who are the best of the best. Out of the many narrators I’ve heard over time, I’d put Richard Ready in my top five with a very select few who are outstanding. He’s delightful to hear, and a narrator of true quality. :)
One or two characters sounded a little different than I, personally, had imagined (I think of Crispin with a higher voice and Whitlock with a lower voice; though both were great in the audio), and one area in the beginning was slightly rushed-feeling to listen to. But those are literally my only “complaints” (and very unimportant ones at that), because overall this audiobook was PERFECT and an absolute delight. I LOVED IT!
Some of my family was listening in while I listened to this, and we all had the best time. :D It’s also handy that it’s a shorter book—only a little over 4 hours long, so it was just right to listen to without feeling like it was going to take an age. I’ll probably even listen to it again sometime (What? The shock! Unheard of!) because it’s THAT fun.
Overall, my reaction: read this book, people! Better yet, have Richard Ready read it to you, because he’s fantastic. :D (And, great—now I want an audiobook of book 2, The Tomb of the Sea Witch…)
(I was given an Audible.com code for a free download of this audiobook from the author. I was not required to write a positive review, and these opinions are entirely my own.)
Story: 5/5
Narrator: 5/5
Performance: 5/5
(Review for the book itself can be found here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...)
(Review originally posted here: https://thepagedreamer.wordpress.com/...)
I have flailed elsewhere (see link at end) about how much I love this book, and this time I’m here to talk about the absolutely delightful audiobook version.
I remember thinking, when I heard about the audio version, that The Beast of Talesend would make a positively fantastic audiobook. Add to that a British narrator and the levels of fantastic go through the roof. Fast-forward to my ecstatic reaction when the author offered me a chance to listen to the audiobook and review it. I gladly accepted, started listening to it right away, and . . . Oh, was I ever NOT disappointed!
The light, fun, humorous, fairytale quality of this book, makes it the perfect audiobook, and the Britishness reminded me of my favorite audiobooks from when I was younger. The Beast of Talesend audiobook is perfection. :D
I don’t listen to audiobooks often these days (though I used to). They’re not always convenient for me, and these days I generally prefer to absorb stories through physically reading printed words with my eyes, you know? Otherwise my mind can wander and I miss important details, which drives me up the wall. (Not through the roof. Through the roof is a good thing in this case; up the wall isn’t.) I have listened to many audiobooks over time, but don’t as much anymore, except in extreme cases of really, really wanting to listen to one for some reason. Like this one.
In this case, the reasons were twofold: 1) I already had read The Beast of Talesend and loved it and wanted to re-read it anyway (never mind that it was only three months since I read it the first time), and 2) I listened to a sample and the narrator has a fabulous British accent.
I’m one of those shallow (erm, that is, blessed with good taste. *cough*) people who absolutely loves accents, and as an American who primarily lives in fictional worlds created by authors from the British Isles, accents which are English, Irish, Scottish, etc., are my favorites. Mr. Richard “Spanners” Ready has a fabulous British accent which was so fun to listen to, and that alone would have made this audiobook splendid.
HOWEVER, he’s also an amazing narrator, and the book was a delight to hear read by this fellow. He does different voices for all the characters, which was SO fun, and some with different accents as well. His narration as Nick Beasley (the main character who tells the story in a somewhat dry and totally funny way) was brilliant, and for some reason I particularly liked his depiction of Cordelia—she was spot-on! Actually, all the characters were. THEY WERE AMAZING! The acting/performance brought the story and characters to vivid life, and I simply LOVED that! It was like watching a movie… just… you know… listening to it instead. In a way, this is better, because you get the audio-drama quality BUT can still imagine everything appearing the way your imagination wants to paint it. And this narrator’s way of bringing the characters to life only adds to that. :) He drew out so much of the character interactions, drama, excitement, and humor in the BEST way. It was fantastic and so fun!
Narrator quality varies in audiobooks, and I would say there are lots who are okay or even good, but not so many who are the best of the best. Out of the many narrators I’ve heard over time, I’d put Richard Ready in my top five with a very select few who are outstanding. He’s delightful to hear, and a narrator of true quality. :)
One or two characters sounded a little different than I, personally, had imagined (I think of Crispin with a higher voice and Whitlock with a lower voice; though both were great in the audio), and one area in the beginning was slightly rushed-feeling to listen to. But those are literally my only “complaints” (and very unimportant ones at that), because overall this audiobook was PERFECT and an absolute delight. I LOVED IT!
Some of my family was listening in while I listened to this, and we all had the best time. :D It’s also handy that it’s a shorter book—only a little over 4 hours long, so it was just right to listen to without feeling like it was going to take an age. I’ll probably even listen to it again sometime (What? The shock! Unheard of!) because it’s THAT fun.
Overall, my reaction: read this book, people! Better yet, have Richard Ready read it to you, because he’s fantastic. :D (And, great—now I want an audiobook of book 2, The Tomb of the Sea Witch…)
(I was given an Audible.com code for a free download of this audiobook from the author. I was not required to write a positive review, and these opinions are entirely my own.)
Story: 5/5
Narrator: 5/5
Performance: 5/5
(Review for the book itself can be found here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...)
August 11, 2017
This was a rather fun read...buuuuut I'm a little conflicted as to how I feel about it.
Here's the thing: I was expecting to adore it. The first chapter was my favorite thing ever, and it gave me high hopes for the rest of the story. Not to mention the fact that some close friends of mine recently read and loved it. AND THERE WAS SNARK SO IT HAD TO BE AWESOME, RIGHT??
*pauses*
*scratches head*
*awkwardly clears throat*
Well, yes and no.
Lovely Things:
- The snark. OH YES MY FRIENDS. The snark was real and dangerous. *grins* I got a good laugh from Nick's dry wit (he's my faaaave) and his snarky banter with...well, everyone. This story gets bonus points because of the snark.
- The storyworld. 1920s setting with fantasy and fairytale themes?? SIGN ME UP. There were airships and automobiles and evil mirrors and magical detectives (or...something like that ;P). IT WAS SO CREATIVE. I absolutely loved the setting, and the idea of having an investigator who disproves the existence of magic was ingenious.
- The characters. Admittedly, I wasn't a huge fan of Lady Beaumont (I mean, Cordelia ;)). For some reason, I just wasn't thrilled with her character. BUT NICK AND CRISPIN. I NEED A WHOLE BOOK ON NICK AND CRISPIN. Those two brothers are hilarious and absolutely the best. <3
- The chapter titles. I'm sorry, but this just deserves its own special mention. I mean, "Beware of Flying Bread"? "Red-Flashy-Explodey Stuff"? "Ouch"? THEY ARE SO FUNNY. This almost makes me want to try naming the chapters in my own stories at some point. Who knew it could be that much fun? XD
Not So Lovely Things:
- It felt...flat. There were a lot of things I loved, but the story overall just felt kind of flat. Sometimes, as funny as the dialogue was, it felt a little forced. I think mostly just when Cordelia was speaking. I felt like her character was kind of like a puzzle piece forced into the wrong place in a puzzle. She just felt out of place to me. And the story in general felt kind of forced--a lot of the events/dialogue/characters didn't feel natural to me. I DON'T KNOW. It's really hard for me to describe. *sighs*
- The repetition. I'm referring to the sentence structure mostly. This is something I struggle with a lot, too, so believe me, I understand how hard it is. Participial phrases were used all. the. time. You know, "dangling from a rope," "sliding across the floor"...stuff like that. Again, I struggle with the exact same thing so that's probably the main reason I noticed it. Otherwise, I doubt it would have bothered me. ;)
- The magic. I wanted to know more about it! It felt like a lot was lacking as to why people had magic and where it came from and why there were rules and why they could break the rules. JUST A LOT OF QUESTIONS, MY FRIENDS. Which I guess makes sense, due to the fact that it's a novella (I think?). But stillll. My brain wanted more info.
In short, I was a bit disappointed with this book. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed it. I just feel bad that it didn't nearly live up to my expectations. :(
(Btw, the author is SO NICE. Thus another reason I feel bad not loving this story. :P)
3 stars
Here's the thing: I was expecting to adore it. The first chapter was my favorite thing ever, and it gave me high hopes for the rest of the story. Not to mention the fact that some close friends of mine recently read and loved it. AND THERE WAS SNARK SO IT HAD TO BE AWESOME, RIGHT??
*pauses*
*scratches head*
*awkwardly clears throat*
Well, yes and no.
Lovely Things:
- The snark. OH YES MY FRIENDS. The snark was real and dangerous. *grins* I got a good laugh from Nick's dry wit (he's my faaaave) and his snarky banter with...well, everyone. This story gets bonus points because of the snark.
- The storyworld. 1920s setting with fantasy and fairytale themes?? SIGN ME UP. There were airships and automobiles and evil mirrors and magical detectives (or...something like that ;P). IT WAS SO CREATIVE. I absolutely loved the setting, and the idea of having an investigator who disproves the existence of magic was ingenious.
- The characters. Admittedly, I wasn't a huge fan of Lady Beaumont (I mean, Cordelia ;)). For some reason, I just wasn't thrilled with her character. BUT NICK AND CRISPIN. I NEED A WHOLE BOOK ON NICK AND CRISPIN. Those two brothers are hilarious and absolutely the best. <3
- The chapter titles. I'm sorry, but this just deserves its own special mention. I mean, "Beware of Flying Bread"? "Red-Flashy-Explodey Stuff"? "Ouch"? THEY ARE SO FUNNY. This almost makes me want to try naming the chapters in my own stories at some point. Who knew it could be that much fun? XD
Not So Lovely Things:
- It felt...flat. There were a lot of things I loved, but the story overall just felt kind of flat. Sometimes, as funny as the dialogue was, it felt a little forced. I think mostly just when Cordelia was speaking. I felt like her character was kind of like a puzzle piece forced into the wrong place in a puzzle. She just felt out of place to me. And the story in general felt kind of forced--a lot of the events/dialogue/characters didn't feel natural to me. I DON'T KNOW. It's really hard for me to describe. *sighs*
- The repetition. I'm referring to the sentence structure mostly. This is something I struggle with a lot, too, so believe me, I understand how hard it is. Participial phrases were used all. the. time. You know, "dangling from a rope," "sliding across the floor"...stuff like that. Again, I struggle with the exact same thing so that's probably the main reason I noticed it. Otherwise, I doubt it would have bothered me. ;)
- The magic. I wanted to know more about it! It felt like a lot was lacking as to why people had magic and where it came from and why there were rules and why they could break the rules. JUST A LOT OF QUESTIONS, MY FRIENDS. Which I guess makes sense, due to the fact that it's a novella (I think?). But stillll. My brain wanted more info.
In short, I was a bit disappointed with this book. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed it. I just feel bad that it didn't nearly live up to my expectations. :(
(Btw, the author is SO NICE. Thus another reason I feel bad not loving this story. :P)
3 stars
August 31, 2017
This book is amazing! I'd seen the book mentioned by people I follow on both Goodreads and Twitter, so it was on my TBR list.
I should've read it sooner than I did. Really. Like go out and buy it this minute. It is written with the same sort of witty, wry, laugh out loud humor of the Percy Jackson series or My Lady Jane. So many great off-hand remarks. Times when the characters didn't respond to situations in the cliched manner, but with a totally unexpected remark. I couldn't stop laughing throughout this whole book.
It is a retelling of Beauty and the Beast sort of. In a city that is a bit like London, but not really. With a fairy tale detective who isn't a fairy tale detective at all, as he would argue.
Not only was the book amazing, but the audiobook version of it was excellent. Some books the audiobook narrator is merely decent or perhaps good. But a lot of books read about the same whether they are audiobook or paper or ebook. But then there are some books, like this one, that are just written to be read out loud. They just lend themselves to audiobook format by the strong voice in the writing, and an excellent narrator puts the ultimate polish on them. THIS is one of those books. If you like audiobooks even a little bit, I would HIGHLY recommend getting the audiobook version of this book. It adds a whole 'nother dimension of hilarity to the book since the narrator does such a good job with the voices and the timing and his British accent.
I honestly could keep gushing about this book and the audiobook, but excuse me while I run off to buy book 2, unfortunately not in audiobook yet. :(
I received a free copy of the audiobook from the author, but I was in no way required to leave a review or even like the book and all thoughts given in this review are a product of my honest fangirling.
I should've read it sooner than I did. Really. Like go out and buy it this minute. It is written with the same sort of witty, wry, laugh out loud humor of the Percy Jackson series or My Lady Jane. So many great off-hand remarks. Times when the characters didn't respond to situations in the cliched manner, but with a totally unexpected remark. I couldn't stop laughing throughout this whole book.
It is a retelling of Beauty and the Beast sort of. In a city that is a bit like London, but not really. With a fairy tale detective who isn't a fairy tale detective at all, as he would argue.
Not only was the book amazing, but the audiobook version of it was excellent. Some books the audiobook narrator is merely decent or perhaps good. But a lot of books read about the same whether they are audiobook or paper or ebook. But then there are some books, like this one, that are just written to be read out loud. They just lend themselves to audiobook format by the strong voice in the writing, and an excellent narrator puts the ultimate polish on them. THIS is one of those books. If you like audiobooks even a little bit, I would HIGHLY recommend getting the audiobook version of this book. It adds a whole 'nother dimension of hilarity to the book since the narrator does such a good job with the voices and the timing and his British accent.
I honestly could keep gushing about this book and the audiobook, but excuse me while I run off to buy book 2, unfortunately not in audiobook yet. :(
I received a free copy of the audiobook from the author, but I was in no way required to leave a review or even like the book and all thoughts given in this review are a product of my honest fangirling.
June 12, 2017
Really loved this story! It's not long and I pretty much read it one setting. Worth checking out for the chapter titles alone. :)
Characters - all great. Cordelia is a nut case with a touch of sanity and I loved her. Nick tries to be a hardboiled detective, but isn't really. The villains were appropriately dramatic and monstrous. They all combined for a really fun cast in which you like everyone, even the villains.
The dialogue was snappy and fun and had me laughing out loud for a good portion. Loved the setting - a world where all the fairy tales were true at one point, but maybe not necessarily how we remember them. I love fairy tale retellings and Beauty and the Beast is my favorite fairy tale. Shultz did an excellent job of paying tribute to the fairy tale while putting a terrific spin on the tale and the whole concept of fairy tales and magic.
Loved it. Highly recommend it. And looking forward to continuing the adventures of Beaumont and Beasley!
Characters - all great. Cordelia is a nut case with a touch of sanity and I loved her. Nick tries to be a hardboiled detective, but isn't really. The villains were appropriately dramatic and monstrous. They all combined for a really fun cast in which you like everyone, even the villains.
The dialogue was snappy and fun and had me laughing out loud for a good portion. Loved the setting - a world where all the fairy tales were true at one point, but maybe not necessarily how we remember them. I love fairy tale retellings and Beauty and the Beast is my favorite fairy tale. Shultz did an excellent job of paying tribute to the fairy tale while putting a terrific spin on the tale and the whole concept of fairy tales and magic.
Loved it. Highly recommend it. And looking forward to continuing the adventures of Beaumont and Beasley!
May 12, 2018
A quick but enjoyable read.
Merged review:
4.5
This is a very fun read, full of fairy-tale craziness. Poor Nick discovers everything he’s believed about that world is wrong. Loved the reference to ‘The Dragon Delusion’ and holding my thumbs in the hope that Reginald is more than a frog!!!
Merged review:
4.5
This is a very fun read, full of fairy-tale craziness. Poor Nick discovers everything he’s believed about that world is wrong. Loved the reference to ‘The Dragon Delusion’ and holding my thumbs in the hope that Reginald is more than a frog!!!
October 3, 2022
(Scroll down for review of full series)
Really funny, actually!
The climax was pretty cliche, but that was kind of the point and it was still enjoyable.
Even though it's about fairytales, there are some pretty scary monsters, so it's not for younger children.
(LOVED the banter and the sibling relationship. This book would honestly be great as a TV series.)
FULL SERIES REVIEW
This review was originally published on homeschoolingteen.com. You can also watch the video version of it here.
Sometimes, reading can be a bit tiring. I’ll still want to enjoy a story, but I don’t want to put in as much effort as I usually do. Thankfully, I’ve found a solution: books that don’t take themselves all too seriously. No long words unless the book is trying to be funny, worldbuilding that doesn’t require me to picture a whole ecosystem in my head, and characters who are ridiculously funny and stupid. That about sums up all of Kyle Robert Schultz’s books, collectively titled the Afterverse. What the books “lack” in difficulty, they make up for in quantity: as of this writing, there 5 series (all in the same world and story), making up a total of 18 short stories and 7 books. Thankfully, they read away easily!
Since the stories don’t really follow the same people, I’ll give a quick description of the main series around which all other books and stories revolve: Beaumont & Beasley. Every different series in the “universe” can be read and understood separately, so there is no need to read them all. Nick Beasley is a private detective in 1922 E.A. (Ever After). His main job involves proving to people that they are not, in fact, cursed, but simply unfortunate. Magic is not something he believes in, and fairy tales are – according to him – a thing for the uneducated masses. However, when the Earl of Whitlock enlists his help solving a mystery, he and his brother Crispin are pushed nose-first into the actual truth behind the city’s modern exterior.
What I loved about the Afterverse books was, first of all, the humour. First of all, the chapter titles (“Ouch”, “Logic and Proportion”, “Otter-nal Love”) were so dumb they were hilarious. Characters were clumsy dolts, but not in a contrived or annoying way. I could still see myself in them. There was also a lot of banter between characters. Something I did start to notice, however, when I read the companion series Crockett & Crane, was that the banter was virtually unchanged between the main male and female protagonists. The dynamic between Todd and Amy in those books was pretty much the same as the dynamic between Nick and Cordelia in Beaumont and Beasley.
Just because a book is light reading does not mean it should underperform in the emotion and plot areas. The Afterverse books do not disappoint. The plot becomes a lot more complicated when the author introduces the infamous time-travelling trope. Personally, I never try to understand what’s going on and just roll with it when people start jumping, so I really have no idea how coherent it is. I will say, however, that it causes some gut-punching emotional reveals. Book 3 of Beaumont and Beasley, The Stroke of Eleven, really went all in trying to make me cry. Because of the heavy emotional plotlines and pretty scary scenes, I would say these books are 13+.
What I did not appreciate was how often and in what way the possession trope was used. I don’t mind when characters get possessed, as long as it is seen as a bad thing. This was not so in the books: possession is a useful tool to be more powerful, and Nick’s curse manifests itself as a person in his dreams – a person he will have to “kill” to get rid of the curse. I really dislike this trope because it undermines the sanctity of the body, treating it like it’s some object to rent out. By having spirits just come in and take over the body as if it were a machine implies that the body is not important: it’s just a vessel your spirit is using. This is not a Biblical approach, and it also sends the message that opening yourself up to outside influence is a good idea. I don’t necessarily believe the author holds this low view of the body simply because he uses a trope, I’m just saying the trope itself inherently invokes this worldview.
All things considered, I’d say Kyle Robert Schultz’s books are suitable and fun for people over the age of 13. There are some parts that I don’t like as much, but the humour and emotional stakes are amazing, largely due to the amazing protagonists. Although there are quite a few books, it’s not necessary to read them all; separate series and books can be appreciated on their own. Not only that, but the books are easy reads. I’d say they’re the perfect lazy read for when you don’t have the energy for something intellectual.
Really funny, actually!
The climax was pretty cliche, but that was kind of the point and it was still enjoyable.
Even though it's about fairytales, there are some pretty scary monsters, so it's not for younger children.
(LOVED the banter and the sibling relationship. This book would honestly be great as a TV series.)
FULL SERIES REVIEW
This review was originally published on homeschoolingteen.com. You can also watch the video version of it here.
Sometimes, reading can be a bit tiring. I’ll still want to enjoy a story, but I don’t want to put in as much effort as I usually do. Thankfully, I’ve found a solution: books that don’t take themselves all too seriously. No long words unless the book is trying to be funny, worldbuilding that doesn’t require me to picture a whole ecosystem in my head, and characters who are ridiculously funny and stupid. That about sums up all of Kyle Robert Schultz’s books, collectively titled the Afterverse. What the books “lack” in difficulty, they make up for in quantity: as of this writing, there 5 series (all in the same world and story), making up a total of 18 short stories and 7 books. Thankfully, they read away easily!
Since the stories don’t really follow the same people, I’ll give a quick description of the main series around which all other books and stories revolve: Beaumont & Beasley. Every different series in the “universe” can be read and understood separately, so there is no need to read them all. Nick Beasley is a private detective in 1922 E.A. (Ever After). His main job involves proving to people that they are not, in fact, cursed, but simply unfortunate. Magic is not something he believes in, and fairy tales are – according to him – a thing for the uneducated masses. However, when the Earl of Whitlock enlists his help solving a mystery, he and his brother Crispin are pushed nose-first into the actual truth behind the city’s modern exterior.
What I loved about the Afterverse books was, first of all, the humour. First of all, the chapter titles (“Ouch”, “Logic and Proportion”, “Otter-nal Love”) were so dumb they were hilarious. Characters were clumsy dolts, but not in a contrived or annoying way. I could still see myself in them. There was also a lot of banter between characters. Something I did start to notice, however, when I read the companion series Crockett & Crane, was that the banter was virtually unchanged between the main male and female protagonists. The dynamic between Todd and Amy in those books was pretty much the same as the dynamic between Nick and Cordelia in Beaumont and Beasley.
Just because a book is light reading does not mean it should underperform in the emotion and plot areas. The Afterverse books do not disappoint. The plot becomes a lot more complicated when the author introduces the infamous time-travelling trope. Personally, I never try to understand what’s going on and just roll with it when people start jumping, so I really have no idea how coherent it is. I will say, however, that it causes some gut-punching emotional reveals. Book 3 of Beaumont and Beasley, The Stroke of Eleven, really went all in trying to make me cry. Because of the heavy emotional plotlines and pretty scary scenes, I would say these books are 13+.
What I did not appreciate was how often and in what way the possession trope was used. I don’t mind when characters get possessed, as long as it is seen as a bad thing. This was not so in the books: possession is a useful tool to be more powerful, and Nick’s curse manifests itself as a person in his dreams – a person he will have to “kill” to get rid of the curse. I really dislike this trope because it undermines the sanctity of the body, treating it like it’s some object to rent out. By having spirits just come in and take over the body as if it were a machine implies that the body is not important: it’s just a vessel your spirit is using. This is not a Biblical approach, and it also sends the message that opening yourself up to outside influence is a good idea. I don’t necessarily believe the author holds this low view of the body simply because he uses a trope, I’m just saying the trope itself inherently invokes this worldview.
All things considered, I’d say Kyle Robert Schultz’s books are suitable and fun for people over the age of 13. There are some parts that I don’t like as much, but the humour and emotional stakes are amazing, largely due to the amazing protagonists. Although there are quite a few books, it’s not necessary to read them all; separate series and books can be appreciated on their own. Not only that, but the books are easy reads. I’d say they’re the perfect lazy read for when you don’t have the energy for something intellectual.
May 24, 2017
*falls backwards*
*stares happily at the ceiling*
Well. THAT was glorious.
I loved how FUN this story was. It wasn't only fun; there was meat and substance to it, too, but--it was also fun. Fun-ness is a virtue that a lot of stories seem to forget, it seems; but not this one.
Years after all the fairy tales have ended, the world still turns on, growing and changing, filling up with cars and zeppelins. Magic seems, at best, like a half-forgotten memory; at worst, an invention and a myth.
Nick Beasley, a private detective with a penchant for tracking down and disproving any hint of fairy-tale magic he can find, is of the latter opinion.
Or, he was. Right up until a hunt for an ancient artifact landed him as a horned beast, riding a magic carpet with a half-insane noblewoman in a desperate attempt to save the world.
This whole book read like the pilot episode of a really epic TV show. It was fast-paced, insanely clever (I was grinning the whole time), and it was satisfying, but it felt like there was so much more going on, and so
much more that COULD go on in the future. (so happy there's going to be a sequel!! I cannot wait). The whole mythology and structure of the story's world felt at the same time oddly different from anything I've ever seen, but also familiar. It was an adventure in the truest sense of the word.
I also loved the characters. Nick was such a wonderful grumpy skeptic, but with a big heart, and Cordelia was--well--Cordelia. Slightly insane and wildly idealistic, I really liked the edges to her character--and I'm curious to know more about her past, too. (Crispin, meanwhile, is my favorite. Don't tell him, though).
Again, this was so much fun.
I think I'm going to go and read it again...
*stares happily at the ceiling*
Well. THAT was glorious.
I loved how FUN this story was. It wasn't only fun; there was meat and substance to it, too, but--it was also fun. Fun-ness is a virtue that a lot of stories seem to forget, it seems; but not this one.
Years after all the fairy tales have ended, the world still turns on, growing and changing, filling up with cars and zeppelins. Magic seems, at best, like a half-forgotten memory; at worst, an invention and a myth.
Nick Beasley, a private detective with a penchant for tracking down and disproving any hint of fairy-tale magic he can find, is of the latter opinion.
Or, he was. Right up until a hunt for an ancient artifact landed him as a horned beast, riding a magic carpet with a half-insane noblewoman in a desperate attempt to save the world.
This whole book read like the pilot episode of a really epic TV show. It was fast-paced, insanely clever (I was grinning the whole time), and it was satisfying, but it felt like there was so much more going on, and so
much more that COULD go on in the future. (so happy there's going to be a sequel!! I cannot wait). The whole mythology and structure of the story's world felt at the same time oddly different from anything I've ever seen, but also familiar. It was an adventure in the truest sense of the word.
I also loved the characters. Nick was such a wonderful grumpy skeptic, but with a big heart, and Cordelia was--well--Cordelia. Slightly insane and wildly idealistic, I really liked the edges to her character--and I'm curious to know more about her past, too. (Crispin, meanwhile, is my favorite. Don't tell him, though).
Again, this was so much fun.
I think I'm going to go and read it again...
December 21, 2017
I could simply gush and gush and GUSH about how much I enjoyed this little novel. Seriously. I could go on and on, my friends. It was such a fun read, I promptly passed it on to my husband -- who read it in less than two days -- and then on to my brother-in-law. Needless to say, the Hubs loved it! and it will definitely circulate the fam, I can tell you that. A huge shout out to the author, Kyle Robert Schultz, for his amazing debut!!
The plot is so unique and creative. The story-world is amazing. I LOVE the characters!!!! The villains. The magic. The Artifacts. The STORY. Nick. Cordelia. Mirrordelia. Crispin.
The HUMOR, y'all. There were many times in the dialogue I could've simply laughed aloud. Told in first person, the writing seems so natural, you feel as if you are the one in Nick's shoes, er, talon-like-claws/feet (if I recall correctly). It was only with great self-control I kept my giggles and snickering to myself...
Read the full review at my blog! Sarah, Plain & Average: http://sarah-plainandaverage.blogspot...
The plot is so unique and creative. The story-world is amazing. I LOVE the characters!!!! The villains. The magic. The Artifacts. The STORY. Nick. Cordelia. Mirrordelia. Crispin.
The HUMOR, y'all. There were many times in the dialogue I could've simply laughed aloud. Told in first person, the writing seems so natural, you feel as if you are the one in Nick's shoes, er, talon-like-claws/feet (if I recall correctly). It was only with great self-control I kept my giggles and snickering to myself...
Read the full review at my blog! Sarah, Plain & Average: http://sarah-plainandaverage.blogspot...
March 27, 2021
First read 2019: 4/4.5 stars
Re-read 2021: 5 stars
After a rough week, rereading The Beast of Talesend was a breath of fresh air. I enjoyed it significantly more on the reread.
Notable Stuff:
-Cordelia is epic. I want to be like her when I grow up and casually throw rolls at people.
-Yay for fairytale twistiness!
-I haven't gotten to the third book in the series yet (deep sadness, and not for a lack of desire on my part!) but there was quite a few references that I picked up that are mentioned in blurbs for later books. Like the Dragon Delusion, which I'm almost certain is the name of another book? Will have to check.
-So many great lines. The humor is spot on.
- All the characters are unique and amazing. Crispin.. Cordelia... oh yeah, and Nick...*heart eyes* Even the villains are interesting. Speaking of which...
-That ending! Did not see that coming. Gave me chills.
-If you're like me on my first read through and mildly enjoyed this book but it's not on your Absolute Favorites list, go ahead and read the next book. The Tomb of the Sea Witch is even better, in my opinion.😉
Content: Basically nonexistent.
Re-read 2021: 5 stars
After a rough week, rereading The Beast of Talesend was a breath of fresh air. I enjoyed it significantly more on the reread.
Notable Stuff:
-Cordelia is epic. I want to be like her when I grow up and casually throw rolls at people.
-Yay for fairytale twistiness!
-I haven't gotten to the third book in the series yet (deep sadness, and not for a lack of desire on my part!) but there was quite a few references that I picked up that are mentioned in blurbs for later books. Like the Dragon Delusion, which I'm almost certain is the name of another book? Will have to check.
-So many great lines. The humor is spot on.
- All the characters are unique and amazing. Crispin.. Cordelia... oh yeah, and Nick...*heart eyes* Even the villains are interesting. Speaking of which...
-That ending! Did not see that coming. Gave me chills.
-If you're like me on my first read through and mildly enjoyed this book but it's not on your Absolute Favorites list, go ahead and read the next book. The Tomb of the Sea Witch is even better, in my opinion.😉
Content: Basically nonexistent.
February 6, 2022
A thoroughly entertaining and quick read that incorporated wonderfully unique twists on fairy-tales into an action-packed plot!
I loved how different this book’s take on magic was. I particularly loved the way well-known fairy-tales were twisted to make them much more exciting and intriguing. The plot was relatively simple, but I liked that because it allowed it to focus more on the magic worldbuilding and character growth.
The character dynamics were fantastic, particularly Nick and Cordelia’s, and the main character Crispin was hilarious. It was great to see his almost father-son relationship with the protagonist Nick take centre stage at moments.
The ending was so so good! Such a fantastic tease for The Tomb of the Sea Witch, and I can’t wait to read it and see what this crazy predicament spirals into!
I loved how different this book’s take on magic was. I particularly loved the way well-known fairy-tales were twisted to make them much more exciting and intriguing. The plot was relatively simple, but I liked that because it allowed it to focus more on the magic worldbuilding and character growth.
The character dynamics were fantastic, particularly Nick and Cordelia’s, and the main character Crispin was hilarious. It was great to see his almost father-son relationship with the protagonist Nick take centre stage at moments.
The ending was so so good! Such a fantastic tease for The Tomb of the Sea Witch, and I can’t wait to read it and see what this crazy predicament spirals into!
December 8, 2022
*incoherent inward screeching*
2022 Re-read: Still a brilliant retelling of fairytales, legends, and myths.
2022 Re-read: Still a brilliant retelling of fairytales, legends, and myths.
July 25, 2019
4.5 stars
Delightful romp of all delightful romps! XD
...with just the right touch of emotional. 😭
Delightful romp of all delightful romps! XD
...with just the right touch of emotional. 😭
December 29, 2019
I'm not a huge fan of books heavy in magic, but this one was great! The storyline was very interesting with great plot twists, and the characters were so well developed. They also had great arcs throughout the story, especially Nick.
The world was also built really well. Magic was included in a really interesting way without making the world seem unrealistic, and I think the rules helped with that.
Overall, awesome story! I'm looking forward to reading the next one!
The world was also built really well. Magic was included in a really interesting way without making the world seem unrealistic, and I think the rules helped with that.
Overall, awesome story! I'm looking forward to reading the next one!
September 13, 2023
September 2023:
I didn't find this one gripping in exactly the same way this second time through, but I was better able to appreciate some of the depth in the storytelling and themes, and it's still a fun, clever adventure with lots of fun fairytale references and spins that I highly recommend.
April 4, 2019:
The book hangover from The Beast of Talesend has lasted a week and doesn't show signs of stopping. (Also, ThAT ENDiNG. I NEED TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENS NEXT.)
I didn't find this one gripping in exactly the same way this second time through, but I was better able to appreciate some of the depth in the storytelling and themes, and it's still a fun, clever adventure with lots of fun fairytale references and spins that I highly recommend.
April 4, 2019:
The book hangover from The Beast of Talesend has lasted a week and doesn't show signs of stopping. (Also, ThAT ENDiNG. I NEED TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENS NEXT.)
May 25, 2017
Well. That was fun. I loved the sense of humor and the fresh, imaginative (very loose) re-writing of a classic fairytale. In fact, I've never really liked the original fairytale, so this story gave me a version I can actually enjoy. =D The characters were all good on their own, but when together the dynamics were even more excellent. My only complaint was that I never felt any of the characters were in danger, so even though the stakes were technically fairly high, I never felt like they were. But that didn't detract from the entertaining, clever romp of a story that The Beast of Talesend absolutely is.
Full Constant Collectible review coming....at some point. I'm really behind on my reviews.
Full Constant Collectible review coming....at some point. I'm really behind on my reviews.
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May 4, 2020This was actually my second time reading, with the use of a audio book. Brilliant work. More later.
January 11, 2023
original review 2020:
This is the only Kyle Robert Shultz book I own in physical form, because I won a Silmarillion Awards giveaway in 2017 and got an autographed copy. I had only a basic understanding of who Shultz was and what he wrote about, so I was happy to receive the book but I had no idea at the time how happy I would later be about owning said autograph.
PSA: Kyle Robert Shultz's books are amazing and you should go read them all. You're welcome.
All that to say, I have this book on the little shelf above my bed, and Monday night I was changing my sheets and decided I would much rather be rereading Beast of Talesend, especially since it's been easily more than a year since I last did so.
This in turn led to my not going to bed until after midnight, because I couldn't very well finish with the sheets until I'd finished with the book.
For an actual review, because I'm lazy and fangirling is way easier than writing reviews, please see this blog post I wrote for a class in undergrad (which was actually the semester after I received the book, I had not connected those two pieces of my timeline before. Interesting).
now go read this book and everything else Shultz has ever written. he deserves it, you deserve it, and i'm not going to shut up about this any time soon.
This is the only Kyle Robert Shultz book I own in physical form, because I won a Silmarillion Awards giveaway in 2017 and got an autographed copy. I had only a basic understanding of who Shultz was and what he wrote about, so I was happy to receive the book but I had no idea at the time how happy I would later be about owning said autograph.
PSA: Kyle Robert Shultz's books are amazing and you should go read them all. You're welcome.
All that to say, I have this book on the little shelf above my bed, and Monday night I was changing my sheets and decided I would much rather be rereading Beast of Talesend, especially since it's been easily more than a year since I last did so.
This in turn led to my not going to bed until after midnight, because I couldn't very well finish with the sheets until I'd finished with the book.
For an actual review, because I'm lazy and fangirling is way easier than writing reviews, please see this blog post I wrote for a class in undergrad (which was actually the semester after I received the book, I had not connected those two pieces of my timeline before. Interesting).
now go read this book and everything else Shultz has ever written. he deserves it, you deserve it, and i'm not going to shut up about this any time soon.
January 26, 2026
A sarcastic narrator, a unique twist on classic fairytales, and hysterical interactions between the MCs?
Yes, this is definitely one of my favorite books.
EDIT: Third time around and I've finally gotten one of my siblings hooked. Sure he despises Cordelia and wishes she actually died (sorry not sorry for spoilers). AND he rants to me about her every chance he gets.
However, this is one of the rare books he actually wants to read by himself. I will always appreciate that, because it's this crazy bookworm sister's goal to help him enjoy reading. Reading this series is definitely a step in the right direction for him. 😁
EDIT #2: rereading this series again, because someday book 7 will be released and when that happens, I’ll be ready for it…tissues and all. It might be too much to hope for though…
EDIT #3: just see above for why I read this book again. I dearly love this world Kyle has created and if we don't see book seven soon...my friend and I just might have to take a road trip together a la Muppets (2011) style.
Yes, this is definitely one of my favorite books.
EDIT: Third time around and I've finally gotten one of my siblings hooked. Sure he despises Cordelia and wishes she actually died (sorry not sorry for spoilers). AND he rants to me about her every chance he gets.
However, this is one of the rare books he actually wants to read by himself. I will always appreciate that, because it's this crazy bookworm sister's goal to help him enjoy reading. Reading this series is definitely a step in the right direction for him. 😁
EDIT #2: rereading this series again, because someday book 7 will be released and when that happens, I’ll be ready for it…tissues and all. It might be too much to hope for though…
EDIT #3: just see above for why I read this book again. I dearly love this world Kyle has created and if we don't see book seven soon...my friend and I just might have to take a road trip together a la Muppets (2011) style.
April 25, 2019
f you're a lover or fairytales, like me, you'll enjoy this book. But if you like a snarky magic skeptic as a narrator, detective stories with a fun new twist, fantastically whimsical characters, and epilogues that will make your mind go BAM, then read this book.
(That epilogue though. It was a stroke of pure genius.)
(That epilogue though. It was a stroke of pure genius.)
July 15, 2017
Wow. I LOVED this book. Such a fun read. New fandom.
I LOVED the characters. Nick is an awesome, sarcastic, witty skeptic of magic, and this is the story of how his life literally gets turned upside down as he discovers that magic is indeed very real. Cordelia was a great character also, a Charmblood who is trying to save her father from the corruption of the evil Rose: the main villain in the story.
I loved how a lot of the traditional fairy tales came into play to set up the story and the plot. It's hilarious, reading about how the fairy tales actually went; not at all the same to the ones we were told. The dialog and humor were pretty much my two favorite things about this book, as well as the excellent worldbuilding. Warning: it leaves you on a cliffhanger, and a pretty good one I daresay. I was utterly *spell*bound with each page. (Sorry for the bad joke.)
I LOVED the characters. Nick is an awesome, sarcastic, witty skeptic of magic, and this is the story of how his life literally gets turned upside down as he discovers that magic is indeed very real. Cordelia was a great character also, a Charmblood who is trying to save her father from the corruption of the evil Rose: the main villain in the story.
I loved how a lot of the traditional fairy tales came into play to set up the story and the plot. It's hilarious, reading about how the fairy tales actually went; not at all the same to the ones we were told. The dialog and humor were pretty much my two favorite things about this book, as well as the excellent worldbuilding. Warning: it leaves you on a cliffhanger, and a pretty good one I daresay. I was utterly *spell*bound with each page. (Sorry for the bad joke.)
June 4, 2018
Update 5/26/18: Still awesome. This is also now officially on my list of Books That Make Everything Better.
Steampunk + Fairy Tales = Awesome
This is wonderful and hilarious and generally awesome. It's not exactly a mystery, even though the main character is a detective, but the book is so good that that's not really an issue. I love the world (yay, steampunkery and fairy tales!), the unique take on some classic fairy tales, the character interactions, everything. The only disappointing thing was that it was so short. Overall, though, this was awesome.
Steampunk + Fairy Tales = Awesome
This is wonderful and hilarious and generally awesome. It's not exactly a mystery, even though the main character is a detective, but the book is so good that that's not really an issue. I love the world (yay, steampunkery and fairy tales!), the unique take on some classic fairy tales, the character interactions, everything. The only disappointing thing was that it was so short. Overall, though, this was awesome.
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