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The Beast of Ten
THE DEATH BLEAK - For centuries he has haunted the nations, taking the blood gain further than any before him.THE PYRE - His storied stronghold deep in the Forest of Naeethe.AND I, EMBER - Sent by the Lights to stop him from becoming the one thing that all nations fear the most.Readers have compared Beth Brower's books to Robin McKinley, Megan Whalen Turner, Brandon Sanderson, and Lloyd Alexander.
546 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 17, 2018
301 people are currently reading
2891 people want to read
About the author
Beth Brower
18 books3,205 followersLike many of my siblings, I would sneak out of bed, slip into the hallway, and pull my favorite books from the book closet. I read my way through the bottom shelf, then the next shelf up, and the shelf above that, until I could climb to the very top shelf, stacked two layers deep and two layers high, and read the titles of the classics. My desire to create stories grew as I was learning to read them.
Subsequently, I spent my time scribbling in notebooks rather than listening to math lectures at school.
I graduated with a degree in literary studies, and have spent several years working on the novels that keep pounding on the doors of my mind, as none of my characters are very patient to wait their turn. I currently live in Orem, Utah, with my wonderful chemist husband, and books in every room of the house.
Subsequently, I spent my time scribbling in notebooks rather than listening to math lectures at school.
I graduated with a degree in literary studies, and have spent several years working on the novels that keep pounding on the doors of my mind, as none of my characters are very patient to wait their turn. I currently live in Orem, Utah, with my wonderful chemist husband, and books in every room of the house.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 430 reviews
April 4, 2024
Guys 😭 The Beast of Ten left me in a stupor. I have spent HOURS thinking about this book, and I desperately need more people to read it so we can talk.
Here is MY blurb about it:
Imagine a book that is very very loosely based on Beauty and the Beast. You have this monster-of-a-being—a man that has defied and defiled EVERYTHING that is good in his life so that he is on the verge of becoming the darkest, most powerful being in the world. He has embraced wickedness and murder and has sacrificed everything humane in himself to get it.
Then the Lights (the heavens/God/the good forces, etc.) send Ember into his path. She is either the final step in his becoming The Beast of Ten or the person that will bring him back. It’s a story of redemption, change, hope, and that heavy question of, “How far gone is too far?”
It is a slower paced book, but my goodness, it is beautiful. One of the most beautiful stories I have ever read. @bethbrower is the QUEEN of portraying realistic characters and relationships. One of my favorite aspects of this story is that change is not a straight line. It is slow and often takes steps back before it can take steps forward. AGH, it is just perfection.
Please read it. Then come talk to me about it.
Here is MY blurb about it:
Imagine a book that is very very loosely based on Beauty and the Beast. You have this monster-of-a-being—a man that has defied and defiled EVERYTHING that is good in his life so that he is on the verge of becoming the darkest, most powerful being in the world. He has embraced wickedness and murder and has sacrificed everything humane in himself to get it.
Then the Lights (the heavens/God/the good forces, etc.) send Ember into his path. She is either the final step in his becoming The Beast of Ten or the person that will bring him back. It’s a story of redemption, change, hope, and that heavy question of, “How far gone is too far?”
It is a slower paced book, but my goodness, it is beautiful. One of the most beautiful stories I have ever read. @bethbrower is the QUEEN of portraying realistic characters and relationships. One of my favorite aspects of this story is that change is not a straight line. It is slow and often takes steps back before it can take steps forward. AGH, it is just perfection.
Please read it. Then come talk to me about it.
June 26, 2022
I was guilty of judging this book by its cover and thought it was going to be the type of fantasy I don’t enjoy. I only decided to read it because I have loved all of Ms. Brower’s other books and I am so impatient for Emma’s sixth journal. I read a few of the reviews, so I was a little bit prepared for the story I encountered. Such a magnificent and beautiful tale of light vs. darkness and the power of redemption. I know I will be visiting this one multiple times in the future. And I was so grateful for the rather lengthy and very satisfying epilogue!
Read
March 31, 2025This book was so absorbing! Really unique spin on Beauty and the Beast and nice and hefty (500+ pages!).
Loved it - can't wait to read more of her books.
Loved it - can't wait to read more of her books.
January 24, 2018
This is a tale of contrasts: darkness to light, terror to beauty, imprisonment to redemption, confusion to clarity.
When I finished the book there was such a sense of reverence that I had to sit for a few minutes and soak it all in. Then I wanted to start it again.
This book has a depth that you rarely find in works of fiction—of any era. Brower’s use of light is phenomenal. The imagery is much more than thick description; you can sense the confusion that emanates from the Bleak’s presence, perceive the grandeur of the Forest of Naeethe, and feel the stones of the Pyre beneath your feet.
This is a remarkable story that—if you let it—can weave its way into the very fabric of your being. It is woven into mine.
When I finished the book there was such a sense of reverence that I had to sit for a few minutes and soak it all in. Then I wanted to start it again.
This book has a depth that you rarely find in works of fiction—of any era. Brower’s use of light is phenomenal. The imagery is much more than thick description; you can sense the confusion that emanates from the Bleak’s presence, perceive the grandeur of the Forest of Naeethe, and feel the stones of the Pyre beneath your feet.
This is a remarkable story that—if you let it—can weave its way into the very fabric of your being. It is woven into mine.
June 16, 2025
First some things I liked about the book:
—The side characters were wonderful and interesting
—great comedic writing and funny moments
—heartfelt allegory and some beautiful moments of hope and repentance/forgiveness
—the cover is lovely
—the world building was pretty cool and had some interesting concepts
Ok now the bad stuff. To be fair, I did just read Kite Runner right before this book which is the greatest literary achievement of this century and also happens to be a redemption story so it’s going to highlight the flaws of the story perhaps more than if I had read it at a different time.
I despise the two main characters. I’m 90% sure they were inspired by Rey and Kylo Ren. They have what is essentially a force connection where they can speak into each other’s minds and are bound together in their fate. One is light and one is darkness. He is an elect extra special guy who fell and she is a little nobody who is special because she’s just so pure. And this goes into my next point: I only actually believed the Death Bleak was evil in one scene of the entire book. He was a villain written by a goodie goodie. The whole book they mention him being terrible to behold and having killed his soul with evil more than any person before him and yet he is just like “ugh you guys are so annoying stop lighting candles.” And I was just not convinced he was evil. Much like Kylo Ren being like “I’m as evil as my grandpa and I can proooove it!” And no one is convinced. Not to mention they never really tell you what it was he did that was so villainous. Because I don’t believe he was ever really that evil, his redemption is less meaningful. I still thought it was nice, but a shadow of what it could be.
Ember is your classic Mary Sue (again like Star Wars). She is a good person at the beginning and ends the book a REALLY good person. She never fails or gives up and the only time she doubts or gets sad is at the end for one page. She never tries to leave the castle or fight the Death Bleak for hurting her dad. And she’s not super naive and then learns the true way of the world. She just is good and gets better at being good. Here stems what I found to be truly problematic which is that Sperro’s redemption hinged on her. I know this is a religious allegory but I think one should always be careful of the implications of what you are doing without the layer of religion to it. The message here is no matter how evil a guy is you should always love and help him. That is a toxic message. Women should not feel like they have to stay with a man who hurts them or like they can and should fix violent and cruel men. There was a disturbing scene where Sperro tries to kill one of Ember’s friends and he restrains himself. She helps him wash his hands of her friend’s blood and apparently this was a huge turn on so she kissed him. She kissed him after she washed her friend’s blood off his hands. Ladies please do not feel like it’s ok for men to be violent. Run away. Please, you deserve so much better. I got so sick of her constantly helping him when he did nothing in return. Is she supposed to be a Christ figure? Yes. But it just doesn’t work here. And maybe this was a platonic kiss but I don’t think people who are just friends hold hands and hide behind curtains and cuddle together. And her whole obsession with being loyal to him and Sperro being like “I can’t walk farther than like 100 yards without you” was just a mess of red flags.
Overall I think this had a good intention and some really great world building and side characters. But so much just didn’t make sense, was weird and unexplained, or just plain dumb. There was a 150 page sequence of them just lighting candles and fixing windows. I think we get the picture in like 50 pages max. There is more I could say about the book but I’ll leave it at this: it’s a sweet Christian allegory that non avid readers or Christian moms will probably enjoy. Just don’t use it as a guideline for your life or you’ll be trapped into a toxic relationship.
—The side characters were wonderful and interesting
—great comedic writing and funny moments
—heartfelt allegory and some beautiful moments of hope and repentance/forgiveness
—the cover is lovely
—the world building was pretty cool and had some interesting concepts
Ok now the bad stuff. To be fair, I did just read Kite Runner right before this book which is the greatest literary achievement of this century and also happens to be a redemption story so it’s going to highlight the flaws of the story perhaps more than if I had read it at a different time.
I despise the two main characters. I’m 90% sure they were inspired by Rey and Kylo Ren. They have what is essentially a force connection where they can speak into each other’s minds and are bound together in their fate. One is light and one is darkness. He is an elect extra special guy who fell and she is a little nobody who is special because she’s just so pure. And this goes into my next point: I only actually believed the Death Bleak was evil in one scene of the entire book. He was a villain written by a goodie goodie. The whole book they mention him being terrible to behold and having killed his soul with evil more than any person before him and yet he is just like “ugh you guys are so annoying stop lighting candles.” And I was just not convinced he was evil. Much like Kylo Ren being like “I’m as evil as my grandpa and I can proooove it!” And no one is convinced. Not to mention they never really tell you what it was he did that was so villainous. Because I don’t believe he was ever really that evil, his redemption is less meaningful. I still thought it was nice, but a shadow of what it could be.
Ember is your classic Mary Sue (again like Star Wars). She is a good person at the beginning and ends the book a REALLY good person. She never fails or gives up and the only time she doubts or gets sad is at the end for one page. She never tries to leave the castle or fight the Death Bleak for hurting her dad. And she’s not super naive and then learns the true way of the world. She just is good and gets better at being good. Here stems what I found to be truly problematic which is that Sperro’s redemption hinged on her. I know this is a religious allegory but I think one should always be careful of the implications of what you are doing without the layer of religion to it. The message here is no matter how evil a guy is you should always love and help him. That is a toxic message. Women should not feel like they have to stay with a man who hurts them or like they can and should fix violent and cruel men. There was a disturbing scene where Sperro tries to kill one of Ember’s friends and he restrains himself. She helps him wash his hands of her friend’s blood and apparently this was a huge turn on so she kissed him. She kissed him after she washed her friend’s blood off his hands. Ladies please do not feel like it’s ok for men to be violent. Run away. Please, you deserve so much better. I got so sick of her constantly helping him when he did nothing in return. Is she supposed to be a Christ figure? Yes. But it just doesn’t work here. And maybe this was a platonic kiss but I don’t think people who are just friends hold hands and hide behind curtains and cuddle together. And her whole obsession with being loyal to him and Sperro being like “I can’t walk farther than like 100 yards without you” was just a mess of red flags.
Overall I think this had a good intention and some really great world building and side characters. But so much just didn’t make sense, was weird and unexplained, or just plain dumb. There was a 150 page sequence of them just lighting candles and fixing windows. I think we get the picture in like 50 pages max. There is more I could say about the book but I’ll leave it at this: it’s a sweet Christian allegory that non avid readers or Christian moms will probably enjoy. Just don’t use it as a guideline for your life or you’ll be trapped into a toxic relationship.
March 30, 2024
Despite having some pacing issues (the middle was quite slow) I'm still giving this five stars because it was absolutely beautiful. I cried (for a while) through the ending. The symbolism was amazing and beautifully written and I loved it.
March 4, 2024
I’ve now officially read all of Beth Brower’s books. So good!
This one was really interesting. Partly beauty and the beast, partly magic of light and darkness. It didn’t turn out how I imagined at first, but I wasn’t disappointed because it ended how it had to end.
The themes of redemption and light/dark were great. She does such a great job of inventing the world not just the story. There are some slow bits….but now that I’ve read all her stuff, Im okay with it.
I completely cried at the end and immediately reread portions.
I didn’t like the epilogue that much (except the last part which was masterful) I wanted more from it? Or maybe less? I’m not sure. But it was helpful to wrap up the story lines.
The world is such an interesting concept, I would totally read another story in this magic system.
Update 2024: Sob. Reading it the second time was much better. I'm not sure why, but I think I just understood more of what was going on in the beginning. And again, the last 50 words of the book. 😭
This one was really interesting. Partly beauty and the beast, partly magic of light and darkness. It didn’t turn out how I imagined at first, but I wasn’t disappointed because it ended how it had to end.
The themes of redemption and light/dark were great. She does such a great job of inventing the world not just the story. There are some slow bits….but now that I’ve read all her stuff, Im okay with it.
I completely cried at the end and immediately reread portions.
I didn’t like the epilogue that much (except the last part which was masterful) I wanted more from it? Or maybe less? I’m not sure. But it was helpful to wrap up the story lines.
The world is such an interesting concept, I would totally read another story in this magic system.
Update 2024: Sob. Reading it the second time was much better. I'm not sure why, but I think I just understood more of what was going on in the beginning. And again, the last 50 words of the book. 😭
November 20, 2020
So Beth Brower is my new favorite author. I think she self-publishes her books (usually a stark warning) but if the reason is publisher rejection, shame on them! Her books are creative, witty, thoughtful, and poetic. I reread them on the regular. That being said, I’m never sure how to rate a book that I just did not like how the plot ended. It’s supposed to be a book about redemption (beauty and the beast retelling) but the redemption in the end is not as happy as I wanted/needed it to be. Too real-life for a fairytale IMO. The author somewhat prepares you for the ending, but only somewhat. Well written, so interesting, but a melancholy and disappointing finish. Maybe I’ll read it again someday when I’m not emotionally connected to the ending, and change my rating.
September 2, 2025
AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
ILOVEIT ILOVEIT ILOVEIT ILOVE IT
I LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Beth Brower is a magician. She has laced spells and enchantment, so every word of her book floats off the page and into your innocent little unnawares heart and plants her story right there next to your breastbone.
This book. A short review is not worthy of such a masterpiece. Go read it. Go be enveloped by it.
The imagery, the writing, all fabulous. I am very grateful for God giving the world a writer like Beth Brower🙌🙌 :)
ILOVEIT ILOVEIT ILOVEIT ILOVE IT
I LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Beth Brower is a magician. She has laced spells and enchantment, so every word of her book floats off the page and into your innocent little unnawares heart and plants her story right there next to your breastbone.
This book. A short review is not worthy of such a masterpiece. Go read it. Go be enveloped by it.
The imagery, the writing, all fabulous. I am very grateful for God giving the world a writer like Beth Brower🙌🙌 :)
January 25, 2026
I— I don’t know how to explain how I feel right now. It hurts. It hurts so very much. I love this book. There is no other way to describe other than that of saying it is both breaking and beautiful. I will most likely reread it very soon because I cannot believe that ending. It was amazing and wonderful, but it hurt so bad. I have no idea how I’m going to get through my school today… and, yes, I know I’m being dramatic.
January 30, 2026
I stayed up till 3 am to finish this, something I never do. But this book is not one that can just be put down and picked back up. This is a Christian book and is a battle between light and darkness. And trust me, the darkness in this is dark!
Content:
D*mn
H*ll
b*stard
A guy carves evil symbols in his skin.
An evil witch
A guy kills people and takes their blood for his evil deeds.
A guys hand is chopped off.
There might be more that I forgot.
But this was just a token battle or simple story. The darkness was real and evil, the author didn’t not soften it and it made the story so much more real because of it. The power of the light even in the face of great evil, was… just amazing!
Ember is light and is given a job by the Lights to save the Bleak. I loved how realistic she was, she would fail and lose hope but she would just comeback to the Lights and would find the strength to keep moving on.
The Bleak was the darkness and this guy was evil. What he did was awful, yet his is the most powerful story in this whole thing. The redemption arc broke my heart and just showed how God can redeem everyone who wants it.
The ending was not what I expected or wanted but it was exactly as it needed to be. I cried multiple times throughout the entire book.
This book is not a light easy read or one for someone who can’t handle heavy topics. But even with all the dark evil things in this, seeing how they were fought was inspiring.
I love this book and will definitely be recommending it to anyone I can.
There is so much more I want to say yet I can’t even form words to describe it.
Content:
D*mn
H*ll
b*stard
A guy carves evil symbols in his skin.
An evil witch
A guy kills people and takes their blood for his evil deeds.
A guys hand is chopped off.
There might be more that I forgot.
But this was just a token battle or simple story. The darkness was real and evil, the author didn’t not soften it and it made the story so much more real because of it. The power of the light even in the face of great evil, was… just amazing!
Ember is light and is given a job by the Lights to save the Bleak. I loved how realistic she was, she would fail and lose hope but she would just comeback to the Lights and would find the strength to keep moving on.
The Bleak was the darkness and this guy was evil. What he did was awful, yet his is the most powerful story in this whole thing. The redemption arc broke my heart and just showed how God can redeem everyone who wants it.
The ending was not what I expected or wanted but it was exactly as it needed to be. I cried multiple times throughout the entire book.
This book is not a light easy read or one for someone who can’t handle heavy topics. But even with all the dark evil things in this, seeing how they were fought was inspiring.
I love this book and will definitely be recommending it to anyone I can.
There is so much more I want to say yet I can’t even form words to describe it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 31, 2021
I’m sad. I have loved all 6 other Beth Brower books I’ve read but didn’t feel this one measured up. I found the characters to be mostly flat and didn’t connect with any of them on a level deep enough for a book that’s over 500 pages. The pacing wasn’t great and I felt stuck and blind for most of the book as tiny bits of progress were made but didn’t feel super meaningful and conflict was resolved without much complexity. Something kept me reading and wanting to see how it ended though.
Maybe I just went into it with too high of expectations after falling in love with the main characters in the Emma M. Lion series and in “The Q.”
Maybe I just went into it with too high of expectations after falling in love with the main characters in the Emma M. Lion series and in “The Q.”
January 24, 2018
Having thoroughly enjoyed Beth Brower's other four books I was anxious to see how her latest work stacked up. The Beast of Ten certainly did not disappoint. It is a highly imaginative, superbly crafted work of fiction that deals in a very unique and powerful way with good and evil, light and dark. The story line carries a sustained tension that makes the book hard to put down. There is love, loyalty, duty, betrayal, mystery and magic!
The well drawn characters are varied and memorable. The dialogue is believable and thought provoking and the book is rich in descriptive detail.
The well drawn characters are varied and memorable. The dialogue is believable and thought provoking and the book is rich in descriptive detail.
November 15, 2021
Beth Brower has captured my heart again!
I have read all of her books this year and could easily just start over and read them all again.
This is a beautifully written fairytale with a touch of Beauty and the Beast. It is a powerful story of sorrow, friendships, love and redemption.
I am now praying for more Beth Brower books to read.
I have read all of her books this year and could easily just start over and read them all again.
This is a beautifully written fairytale with a touch of Beauty and the Beast. It is a powerful story of sorrow, friendships, love and redemption.
I am now praying for more Beth Brower books to read.
July 24, 2025
There aren’t words for this book. I will treasure it always.
January 13, 2026
I appreciated the Christian allegory and story of redemption. However, the world building was really thin and the characters had the bare minimum for backstory leaving them flat and uninteresting. At over 500 pages, it just doesn’t land for me. I’ll leave it at that.
December 13, 2021
I have so many thoughts about this book (and Beth Brower books in general). I’ve read all of her books so far except for The Q so I’m not sure how this is treated in that book but the way she writes about men and women love interests interacting is so similar. There are flirtations, touching of the face and arms, furtive glances and smiles, little rituals they share and there is usually more than one male hopeful for the female protagonist.
And then there’s the waiting! The reader has to be so patient to figure out how this subtle love story will play out. If it will. It might not be revealed until the very last page. Or maybe never? I’m not spoiling anything here but I’m noticing these patterns. It’s maddening but it’s also so genius.
I loved the symbolism in this book. The powers of light and darkness, hope and despair, prayers and evil magicks. The Dark Bleak was such an interesting character and I really liked finding out what kind of past he had and how his choices impacted others. Ember was also an interesting character but so ill prepared for her assignment which I also feel like is a theme for the women in Beth Brower’s books. She didn’t know the extent of her powers and relied on the people around her to fill in the gaps for her. Ugh! This reminds me also of how light and knowledge played out. When light was lost, people lost the power to increase their knowledge.
Anyway, I cried at the end and couldn’t console myself until I talked it out with a friend who also read it.
And then there’s the waiting! The reader has to be so patient to figure out how this subtle love story will play out. If it will. It might not be revealed until the very last page. Or maybe never? I’m not spoiling anything here but I’m noticing these patterns. It’s maddening but it’s also so genius.
I loved the symbolism in this book. The powers of light and darkness, hope and despair, prayers and evil magicks. The Dark Bleak was such an interesting character and I really liked finding out what kind of past he had and how his choices impacted others. Ember was also an interesting character but so ill prepared for her assignment which I also feel like is a theme for the women in Beth Brower’s books. She didn’t know the extent of her powers and relied on the people around her to fill in the gaps for her. Ugh! This reminds me also of how light and knowledge played out. When light was lost, people lost the power to increase their knowledge.
Anyway, I cried at the end and couldn’t console myself until I talked it out with a friend who also read it.
January 31, 2018
I rarely write reviews of books, because unlike Beth, I do not have a way with words and can rarely reduce my experience into a short and meaningful summary. However, this book at least needs an attempt.
First of all I love anything sending me Beauty and the Beast vibes, I don’t know what it is about that fairy tale, maybe the bonding over a shared love of a library or that I innately want to hope that even the most “beastly” of us have a chance of redemption, but it has always been a favorite.
Beth has a way with imagery that makes places come to life. I want to vacation at the Pyre and spend my days in its library. I want to see the stained glass and walk it’s forests. It’s stunning!
The pacing and characters were wonderful. It kept me pulled in with enough conflict and resolution building to the climax of the story and poignant conclusion.
To sum up. It’s a beautiful story and you should read it!
First of all I love anything sending me Beauty and the Beast vibes, I don’t know what it is about that fairy tale, maybe the bonding over a shared love of a library or that I innately want to hope that even the most “beastly” of us have a chance of redemption, but it has always been a favorite.
Beth has a way with imagery that makes places come to life. I want to vacation at the Pyre and spend my days in its library. I want to see the stained glass and walk it’s forests. It’s stunning!
The pacing and characters were wonderful. It kept me pulled in with enough conflict and resolution building to the climax of the story and poignant conclusion.
To sum up. It’s a beautiful story and you should read it!
July 30, 2025
I don’t know what I will read next, I feel I lost my friends
I have reached my final Beth Brower book and now I do not know what I will possibly read. The Beast of Ten is unlike any of her other books yet at the same time is filled with the same immense talent. The character development is amazing and the pace perfect. Beth has an amazing way of opening up new lives to you that you never knew you needed and now don’t know how you will live without. The story of redemption seems like a story 1,000 years old yet it is told here in so much beautiful depth and poignancy that it seems like the first story of redemption you have ever heard. I am so grateful to have found an author that conveys such a breath of emotions while writing with beauty and honor instead cheap smut and sensationalism.
I have reached my final Beth Brower book and now I do not know what I will possibly read. The Beast of Ten is unlike any of her other books yet at the same time is filled with the same immense talent. The character development is amazing and the pace perfect. Beth has an amazing way of opening up new lives to you that you never knew you needed and now don’t know how you will live without. The story of redemption seems like a story 1,000 years old yet it is told here in so much beautiful depth and poignancy that it seems like the first story of redemption you have ever heard. I am so grateful to have found an author that conveys such a breath of emotions while writing with beauty and honor instead cheap smut and sensationalism.
June 20, 2025
Did I love this book? Yes. And yet I am so conflicted about the ending. Not at all what I anticipated. (Knowing it’s a retelling of Beauty and The Beast likely shaped my expectations.) And did it feel like it wrapped up super quickly to anyone else?
I think I probably cried through the entire last five percent of the book. How will I ever fall asleep after this?? I need to discuss this with someone.
Very different than EML but I was always super excited to start reading again. Well done, Beth Brower.
Probably 4.5 stars for me. (A 5 star rating could be argued but I’m still upset about the ending.)
I think I probably cried through the entire last five percent of the book. How will I ever fall asleep after this?? I need to discuss this with someone.
Very different than EML but I was always super excited to start reading again. Well done, Beth Brower.
Probably 4.5 stars for me. (A 5 star rating could be argued but I’m still upset about the ending.)
April 6, 2025
Beth Brower 😭 she always gets me. Such beautiful stories with such purpose and gravity. They are so absorbing but in a deeply soul-satisfying way.
The Beast of Ten was a story of seemingly impossible redemption. The tension of light and dark was so tangible. I will be thinking about this one for days to come.
The Beast of Ten was a story of seemingly impossible redemption. The tension of light and dark was so tangible. I will be thinking about this one for days to come.
December 31, 2024
Completely different from Emma M. Lion, but just as well written.
It started like a Beauty & the Beast retelling, then morphed into an amazing good vs evil tale that I couldn't help but see it through Biblical eyes. 🤎
It started like a Beauty & the Beast retelling, then morphed into an amazing good vs evil tale that I couldn't help but see it through Biblical eyes. 🤎
April 8, 2025
This was incredible. And this from a girl who doesn't love fantasy. I picked it up because I blew through all Beth Brower's Emma M. Lion books twice last year. I knew it wouldn't be anything like those, but I thought I'd give it a try.
While this is technically a Beauty and the Beast retelling, it's so unique that it felt brand new. This is the best redemption story I've ever read since the Bible. Seriously. I loved the contrast of light and dark. The way she talks about people having gifts and how they're supposed to use them is fantastic. I appreciated how the people at the Pyre didn't give up hope. I could go on but I won't. Just read it.
We need more books like this.
Content: mild language, mentions of murder & dark magic but not graphic
While this is technically a Beauty and the Beast retelling, it's so unique that it felt brand new. This is the best redemption story I've ever read since the Bible. Seriously. I loved the contrast of light and dark. The way she talks about people having gifts and how they're supposed to use them is fantastic. I appreciated how the people at the Pyre didn't give up hope. I could go on but I won't. Just read it.
We need more books like this.
Content: mild language, mentions of murder & dark magic but not graphic
August 26, 2024
I really loved this beautiful, enchanting story. For me, it was less of a beauty and the beast retelling and more of the struggle between good and evil. I saw this book as an allegory of how sin in our lives grows when fed but how good is stronger and has the power to overcome the evil. There were parts that were a bit too drawn out and repetitive but overall I really enjoyed the journey of this book. I didn’t feel like I needed to race to the finish because I thoroughly enjoyed the characters journey along the way. It took me a little while to wrap my head around the setting and some terminology but once I did it was an easy read. I am sad the book is over and miss the characters. If you like a thoughtful, somewhat poetic fantasy this book is for you.
August 7, 2024
4.5 stars! A gorgeously written spin on Beauty and the Beast with a surprisingly creative, new-feeling take on magic and good vs. evil. Beth Brower can truly do no wrong. I loved the characters. I could envision the setting so vividly. The story made me laugh and gasp and cry and hurt.
My one issue with this book was that I felt it dragged sometimes. This may have more to do with me, as my attention span can be quite variable. On the plus side, it pulled me in immediately, which has been my one issue with some of Brouwer’s other books, such as The Q which I struggled to get into at first.
My one issue with this book was that I felt it dragged sometimes. This may have more to do with me, as my attention span can be quite variable. On the plus side, it pulled me in immediately, which has been my one issue with some of Brouwer’s other books, such as The Q which I struggled to get into at first.
January 9, 2026
Wow, what a book!!! It is probably one of my favorite books I've ever read! I have never read a book that so clearly and beautifully depicts the battle between good and evil, light and dark. This is a story that very loosely mimics Beauty and the Beast, but told in such a way that I was forced to stop and re-read many lines, highlighting many of them for their beauty and the truth they held. I can't stop thinking about this book! What a picture of grace for even the worst of the worst.
August 17, 2025
4.5 🌟 Part 1 and 2 were on the slow slide, but I understood that the characters, world and tension really had to be built to form any attachment to them before the action. Part 3 would be 5 🌟 actually had me quite choked up in the end!
Still not sure what I think of fantasy and sometimes I struggle with the made up elements like powers etc but I LOVED the themes. This book really reminded me that God often uses the most unlikely and unprepared people to do his work. For his power is made perfect in our weakness. A beautiful story of the battle towards redemption, even if the outcome is not clear.
Still not sure what I think of fantasy and sometimes I struggle with the made up elements like powers etc but I LOVED the themes. This book really reminded me that God often uses the most unlikely and unprepared people to do his work. For his power is made perfect in our weakness. A beautiful story of the battle towards redemption, even if the outcome is not clear.
September 25, 2023
I am not usually a reader of fantasy, but I have loved everything I have read by Beth Brower so I decided to give it a try. I enjoyed it from the beginning but I didn't have an issue walking away, until the last 1/4 of the book. I read it in one sitting. This is a beautiful story of finding redemption, not only for the person seeking it, but for those that are impacted and help along the way.
June 13, 2025
"But no matter what's inside you, no matter what you're meant for, if you take counsel from the dark, there it is that you will be led."
I didn't know what I was getting with this story, but I know that it delivered on every front.
Part Beauty and the Beast, part something completely unique, this story kept me guessing all the way to the end.
I loved the themes of dark and light and the power of redemption. I also loved the theme of the value of a single person and that a Higher Power will move heaven and earth to save that one person and that no one is beyond hope.
This book will stick with me for a long time.
"Darkness does not let its former captives go easily. It must try to destroy them first, to pull them once again into oblivion."
I didn't know what I was getting with this story, but I know that it delivered on every front.
Part Beauty and the Beast, part something completely unique, this story kept me guessing all the way to the end.
I loved the themes of dark and light and the power of redemption. I also loved the theme of the value of a single person and that a Higher Power will move heaven and earth to save that one person and that no one is beyond hope.
This book will stick with me for a long time.
"Darkness does not let its former captives go easily. It must try to destroy them first, to pull them once again into oblivion."
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