Unhinged: Joy for Darkness

by Amanda Deed

Serena Bellingham is faced with an impossible choice. Either leave her struggling family to serve the eccentric genius, Edward King, or stay, only to see the same man imprison her father.

Her decision leads her to Aleron House, a home shrouded in secrecy, strange attitudes and even stranger happenings. Is Edward King all that she has heard, or is the truth something entirely different? Is it possible that the handsome architect might need her even more than her beloved family does?

Unhinged is an Australian retelling of Beauty and the Beast, complete with a mysterious curse and a precious rose.

Genres: Retellings, Fiction

266 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 1, 2018

About the author

Amanda Deed grew up in the South Eastern suburbs of Melbourne in a Christian home, and found faith at an early age. She has followed her passion to serve the Lord through music and literature since her teen years. Now married, with three children, Amanda enjoys the variety of being a mother, administrator/book-keeper, musician and fiction writer.

Amanda’s debut novel, The Game, was awarded the 2010 CALEB Prize for fiction.

Reviews

[Nola Lorraine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nineteen-year-old Serena Bellingham is forced to go to Aleron House to work for the aloof and humorless Edward King who caught her father trying to steal a small exquisite painting of a rose. If she refuses, her father will be brought before the magistrate and jailed. The handsome Mr King seems like a merciless beast at first, but as Serena gets to know him better, she realises that all is not as it seems. He is an extremely gifted artist and architect, and she finds herself caught up in his enthusiasm. However, he is given to strange impulses, whether that be to take her on a midnight carriage ride to view the best architecture in Sydney or (almost) flying off the face of a cliff. What are his family hiding, and what of this curse that plagues Edward? Serena finds herself increasingly drawn to the man, in spite of his odd behaviour, but what kind of future could they have when he is 'brain sick'?

I really enjoyed this re-imagining of Beauty and the Beast. The story is set in 1840s Australia and it was interesting to see the attitudes of the time regarding those that appear a little odd. Edward's behaviour resembles what we might call bipolar disorder today. However, the treatment of such 'brain sick' people in those times could be inhumane. Amanda Deed deals sensitively with his condition, also bringing issues of faith to bear. Has Edward really been cursed? Can God bring healing to his condition? Can Serena continue to love him even if he never recovers?

The story is mainly told from Serena's perspective, though we get a glimpse of Edward's thoughts through his diary entries. The characters were likable, but with flaws which made them more believable. In the early parts of the novel, I felt there were perhaps too many passages of Serena's thoughts going back and forth, though it did bring out the dilemmas she found herself in. The writing is good and I felt I could visualise the setting. At times, it was reminiscent of gothic novels like Jane Eyre. It was a pleasant change to see such a story set against an historical Australian backdrop.

If you like historical novels with plenty of food for thought, there is much to enjoy and ponder in this novel.

[Jenny Glazebrook · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an amazing story that is beautifully and cleverly told. I was captivated from the beginning, held with a sense of both dread and anticipation, wondering how all could end well for the characters. I was drawn immediately to the main characters, living through every emotion with them. I love the author’s unique idea for the beast and the inclusion of the rose and the curse. I love how she delves into the issue of mental illness and depicts it as something that is a battle but that also brings incredible giftedness and amazing depth. I have friends with this illness and have grown to love them for the way they make the world a richer, more vibrant place despite (and because of) their battles. The author brings out the reality of living with mental illness beautifully. ‘Joy for darkness’ is the perfect subtitle for this book. Out of darkness and fear and pride, the author brings the characters to a place of joy and peace and surrender to God.

[Lynne Stringer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Beauty and the Beast. It's my favourite fairy tale, so I always like to read re-tellings of this story.
I was a little concerned with this one in its early stages, as it didn't grab me straight away and I found some aspects of it unengaging. However, I stuck with it and it grew on me. I enjoyed the way it resolved and like the protagonists. It was perhaps a bit predictable in places, but I didn't have a problem with that.

[Catriona McKeown · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this romantic, but also challenging, Australian novel. The links between Unhinged and Beauty & The Beast were very clever. There was much mystery surrounding the ‘beast’, Mr King, what his curse was, and what Serena’s part would be in freeing him from it. Serena was a lovely character, albeit a little naive and too quick to make assumptions (but who wants to read a perfect heroine?). The ending was quite disturbing, and challenging, as historical truths from our Aussie (and worldwide) history of the treatment of those with mental health issues was brought to light. But it was done with compassion and the author used it to implore the reader to find the happily ever after within the final pages.

[Adele Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amanda Deed does a commendable job of shedding light on mental illness and prejudice through this unique retelling of 'Beauty and the Beast'. This historical romantic fiction is set in Australia and reveals the struggles of one who was 'brain sick' in that era, whilst remaining relevant to the modern reader.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a lovely intertextual work based on the story of Beauty and the Beast, set in Sydney in the early 1800's. The 'beast' is a man who seems to be a terrible tyrant but is in fact suffering from something like bipolar disorder. This book shows the awful reality of what it meant to be suffering in this way in that era, where people who just needed some TLC and maybe some anti-depressants were locked away in asylums.

But the beast has a beautiful saviour who loves him for who he is. And she helps him come to know the God who created him and understands him better than anyone.

A very satisfying happily-ever-after fairy tale that has its feet firmly on the ground in the real world. Loved it :)

[Jeanette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reiew to follow

(NB Switched to print as that's what I read, not Ebook)

[Oana-Maria Uliu · Rating 3 out of 5]

It started like a not very good retelling of Beauty and the Beast and then it turned into a gothic romance with a bipolar MP and a machiavellic sister. All of a sudden, things got solved (admittedly) by some kind of magic, therefore I'm not buying the ending. Even though I'm sorry for all the characters who are nice 'people', being genetically bipolar in that day and age wouldn't have gone hand in hand with a happy marriage. Loving and being loved wouldn't have stopped that particular condition.