The Beast's Heart

by Leife Shallcross

A sumptuously magical, brand new take on a tale as old as time—read the Beast's side of the story at long last.

I am neither monster nor man—yet I am both.

I am the Beast.

The day I was cursed to this wretched existence was the day I was saved—although it did not feel so at the time.

My redemption sprung from contemptible roots; I am not proud of what I did the day her father happened upon my crumbling, isolated chateau. But if loneliness breeds desperation then I was desperate indeed, and I did what I felt I must. My shameful behaviour was unjustly rewarded.

My Isabeau. She opened my eyes, my mind and my heart; she taught me how to be human again.

And now I might lose her forever.

Lose yourself in this gorgeously rich and magical retelling of The Beauty and the Beast that finally lays bare the beast's heart.

Genres: Fantasy, Retellings, Romance, Young Adult, Beauty and The Beast, Fairy Tales, Fiction

416 pages, Paperback

First published May 3, 2018

About the author

Leife Shallcross’s first novel, The Beast’s Heart, a "luxuriously magical retelling of the Beauty and the Beast fairy tale", will be published by Hodder & Stoughton in May 2018. She is also the author of several short stories, including Pretty Jennie Greenteeth, which won the 2016 Aurealis Award for Best Young Adult Short Story. Leife has a bit of a thing for fairy tales, and is particularly inspired by those characters that tend to fall into the cracks of the usual stories. She can be found online at leifeshallcross.com and on Twitter @leioss.

Reviews

[Jennifer ~ TarHeelReader · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars to this Beauty and the Beast retelling!

The Beast’s Heart is a Beauty and the Beast retelling from the Beast’s perspective. Set in seventeenth century France, it’s a magical tale reminiscent of the original.

The Beast lives a broken, reclusive existence in his grimy chateau filled with unlikely servants. He has been cursed, and this is the life he is dealt.

A lost and tired traveler arrives at the chateau, and it just so happens he has a beautiful daughter. The Beast wants the daughter, Isabeau, to visit the chateau in hopes that she can help absolve the curse. In a turn of events, Isabeau agrees to live with the Beast for a year in exchange for her father’s freedom.

However, the Beast and Isabeau falling in love is not the only answer to reversing the curse…

This story takes some time. I think fantastical stories often do. The romance between the Beast and Isabeau is at the heart of this story. That in itself takes time because he has to win her over.

Overall, I found The Beast’s Heart to be a noteworthy read filled with characters I grew to love, and some I felt like I already knew, with an enchanting, indulgent storyline.

I received a complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.

My reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com

[Berit☀️✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

A magical tale as old as time.

This was an enchanting retelling of Beauty and the Beast, told from the Beast’s perspective.... my only true knowledge of this story is from Disney and from that movie I had a bit of a soft spot for Beast... so I was really excited when I heard this book was going to tell us the story from his point of view... and this book did not disappoint... although I do have to admit because this book had a bit of a young adult vibe the Beast wasn’t quite as alpha as I would have liked... A magical story, lyrically told, that really gave me a real fairytale vibe... The writing was a bit old-fashioned and really gave you a sense of being right there with Beast and Isabeau... this was something that actually threw me off, not being right there with them, but the fact that the main female protagonist was not named Bell but Isabeau... not going to lie it took me a good while to figure out she was the correct love interest, I kept waiting for Bell to show up! Once I got over that I really got into the story and fell in love with this beautiful castle and the adorable Beast...

I am sure most of you are very familiar with this plot so I’m not going to regurgitate it... One thing I think you need to know before you pick it up though it is very heavy on the romance, a very clean romance, but romance all the same... Beast was one determined and relentless man and I have to say I am not sure if Isabeau was worthy of his love? It could possibly be that women were much more reserved in 17th century France then they are today,Isabeau just seemed a little cold... but I really did like her family her father and her sisters, and I like that Beast could glimpse them in that magical mirror...

A beautifully told story Full of heart and charm! Recommend🌹

🎵🎵🎵 Song Running Through My Head


Tale as old as time
True as it can be
Barely even friends
Then somebody bends
Unexpectedly
Just a little change
Small to say the least
Both a little scared
Neither one prepared
Beauty and the beast
Ever just the same
Ever a surprise
Ever as before and ever just as sure as the sun will rise
Ever just the same
Ever a surprise
Ever as before
Ever just as sure
As the sun will rise
Tale as old as time
Tune as old as song
Bittersweet and strange
Finding you can change
Learning you were wrong
Certain as the sun
Certain as the sun
Rising in the east
Tale as old as time
Song as old as rhyme
Beauty and the beast...

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=bNB2Sj-...

*** huge thank you to Berkley for my copy of this book ***

[Elle❤ · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 stars

*Thank you to the author and NetGalley for giving me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*

Disney's "Beauty and the Beast" without the musicals.

I can see this book being enjoyable for a teen audience, or those who like a simple, understated read- but for me, it was incredibly boring and unexciting. The pacing, the story, and the characters. Just...boring.

I also feel like the author was trying too hard to bulk up the story with descriptive words for the surroundings, or the appearance of something, and it came across very amateur. Here's an example of what I'm talking about (These are not direct quotes, I couldn't be bothered looking for them): The gate was withered and decayed, with deteriorated rails. The dress was an elegant gold, with stunning, exquisite embroidery. Etcetera, etcetera. There's a way to describe something without throwing a load of words into a sentence.

The cover is fab though.

[Scarlett Readz and Runz....Through Novel Time & Distance · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 beastly good stars

The most enduring romance...

The Beast's Heart is so beautiful. It is the most intricately written retelling full of longing, dreaming, romance and heartache. From the Beast's point of view, this stunning novel reveals the innermost feelings of a man cursed to find true love while trapped in a beast's body. Perhaps a story you find mirrored in many other stories and fairy tales, usually it is a curse that sends a princess to sleep to await love's true kiss or some other way to free a forced upon entrapment.

The Beauty and The Beast is set in France in the mid-1700s and is one of the most well known and retold tales throughout the ages. I am not aware if it has ever been done the way Shallcross has created this achingly tantalizing slow burn retelling, but it is stellar and not to be missed.

Most of the tale does not veer off the original as I know it. There were differences in Isabeau's sisters' lives and there were no magical visible servants in the form of candlesticks or brooms etc. However, magic was implied as dinner was always served, clothes always laid out and the fire lit in the evenings and so on. I have watched/read a few variations on this but The Beast's Heart follows the main premise with few small liberties to fit the flow of beast's point of view.

At first, the reader is introduced to Beast's situation, his curse, and his miserable loneliness. As the tale goes and Isabeau is joining him in the castle, the real development of their friendship and liking begins. Beast has been smitten and in love with Isabeau from the moment he laid eyes on her. His feelings deepen every day as they spend time reading in the library, converse, play chess or instruments and walk the gardens. Beast puts himself forth in the most vulnerable and true ways, but he suffers her rejection of love over and over again. Isabeau is lost in thoughts many a time that it makes her ill and homesick.

As a reader, you garner glances at what Isabeau might be going through by her outward descriptions, but it is the Beast's mind that will capture your heart. His loyal, friendly and concerned feelings for Isabeau are heartwrenching to read about. There never was a love truer. In his agonizing rejection, he holds her to the light, uplifts, praises and continues to love enduringly. To me, this is such a lost art in a way we love one another. It will speak to the romantic at heart and the beast has mine.

Myself, I have always loved the Beast even before this rendition. The main reason for that is the idea not to judge character by a person's appearance. Too many times it is simply so that if we really open our eyes, we can be captivated by he unseen or unveiled. The 'Don't judge the book by its cover' metaphor is something I try to live by every day. There is too much hidden beauty in this world...and most don't take the time to look, listen or do attentively.

This book will appeal to those who want to feel again...to those hopeless romantics, to those that need to feel that pang and pain in their chest again to know they still can.

It's aching, it's wrenching, it's sad, it's happy and more.

The ending is a sweet commencement to Beast's pure, gentlemanly modesty and tribute to love.

...And I have woken from the everyday numb mundaneness to feel again.

Thank you, Beast.

Scarlett

XOXOXO

More of my reviews here:
https://scarlettreadzandrunz.com/

[Bex (Beckie Bookworm) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Now I am such a big fan of anything remotely related to the fairy tale "Beauty And The Beast" so when I saw this a narration of my favourite childhood fable but told from the beast POV a totally unique concept and one that I had never encountered before: well I just had to read it.
Sadly this didn't quite live up to my grand expectations which really is a shame as this was one book I was ever so looking forward to indulging myself with.
Now first I just want to say the front cover on this is absolutely gorgeous and for that reason alone I would have given this a try its simply stunning: a real eye-catcher.
So as I mentioned earlier this is told solely from the Beasts POV a real selling point for me as it was just such a unique concept.
The language used here was of such a lyrical quality and the whole story had an old world feel to it, in style and narration: fitting considering the time this was set in.
This at times also came across as charming and had almost a magical ambience about it.
The Beast himself was such a lonely solitary individual imprisoned behind the magical gates of his vast estate for such an age: you could taste his desolation and sense of abandonment at times he seemed almost confused by the hand he had been dealt.
Isabeau though outwardly charmed also didn't seem that enamoured of the Beast despite her turnaround and eventual declaration I thought she came across here as slightly cold and disconnected and if I had to peg her feelings I would say she felt more friendship than any great passion here, the love here felt more one-sided to me.
I actually prefered the Beast myself he just seemed more genuine in his interactions.
Maybe that is because I got to play around in his head whereas Isabeau it was just guesswork.
This was also well written that I certainly cannot fault it on: but despite this, I at times felt a real disconnect within the narrative: I just did not feel emotionally connected to the characters at all.
This was also a trifle longwinded and took ages to get to the point I do think this would be better served compacted down slightly, I do feel this story could have been told with a smaller page count.
Don't get me wrong I love a good long book but not when it's not adding much to the story just needless page filler.
I got bored with the slow pace and there just seemed pages when the Beast and Isabeau were not really doing anything interesting: just reading and walking, playing music, then it all looped back around and just repeated It was these times that I found myself skimming slightly.
I think my favourite part here was having that window from the Beasts magic Mirror into Isabeau's family life now that I did like and thought it was a nice touch.
So yeh positives and negatives for me this in itself is predominantly a romance and a very clean one at that: I am glad I read it as I did enjoy it to a degree it just wasn't completely what I thought it was going to be, I think this would maybe work much better with a younger audience than me.
I voluntary reviewed a copy of The Beasts Heart
All opinions expressed are entirely my own.



Reviewed By Beckie Bookworm
https://www.facebook.com/beckiebookworm/
www.beckiebookworm.com

[- The Polybrary - · Rating 4 out of 5]

~*Review first appeared on The Bent Bookworm!*~

I love Beauty and the Beast retellings. LOVE. I’m slightly obsessed with that particular story arc/plot and love seeing the different spins authors put on it. I think part of it is because I absolutely adore castles, and COME ON who hasn’t been obsessed with the Beast’s library?

When I first read the blurb for this one, I got super excited – and then read a very negative review (by a reviewer I usually agree with and whom I really respect), which made my toes curl…butbutbutbut it was Beauty and the Beast! So I decided to give it a shot anyway, and lo and behold I was approved for an ARC. I’m so glad now that I didn’t let one review decide whether or not I would read the book. While of course no two people are going to feel exactly the same and the reviewer was perfectly professional and within rights to feel as they did, I personally felt the book was lovely!

^This is pretty much EXACTLY how I picture the Beast’s castle as written in this book! – photo from Boredom Therapy

This book surprised me by how closely it follows the original. Of course it is not exact, but it has many more similarities than most of the adaptations I’ve read. It is set in old France, in the 18th-ish century. Isabeau i.e., Belle, is the youngest daughter of a merchant with three daughters. The beast, cursed for an undetermined amount of time, has spent years wandering the woods around his cursed castle and later within the castle itself, attempting to claw his way back to some guise of humanity.

I looked down at my hideous, beastly paws. Thickly furred on the back; black, leathery palms; and those terrible claws I could not sheate. I was overcome with shame. Who am I to love such a one as her? Just as quickly, my shame turned to anger. My talons sunk into the back of the chair. My heart is human! I cried in my mind.

The magic of the story is rather different, as there are no talking candlesticks or clocks and no Mrs. Potts (so sad), but the Beast’s house definitely has a mind and life of its own and is indeed very magical…more on that later.

Characters

First of all, the Beast. He’s a very sympathetic character, though a flawed one. He was cursed by a faery who had a long history with his family, and cursed NOT for being evil, but for another reason that you’ll have to read to find out. He is very…well, mopey. Which is really quite understandable given the circumstances, but sometimes I did want to shake him. He recognizes, too, that his manipulation and threatening of Isabeau’s father was wrong and cruel, and he is sorry for it, but as Isabeau later tells him,

“Desperate men do desperate things.”

The Beast definitely grows and changes throughout the story, as he does in the original and most retellings. His woe-is-me attitude sometimes crept in and made him annoying, but overall I liked him.

Isabeau is your typical Belle, except – and I can’t quite forgive this – she is NOT as obsessed with books as my idea of Belle always is! In fact, she declares that she doesn’t quite know what she is good at or what she really enjoys, as her last few years have been spent just trying to make ends meet and help her sisters and father out of the deep depression they collectively fell into after the demise of their father’s fortune. Oy. She remains mostly the same through the book, except of course she comes to see the Beast in a very different light by the end.

Isabeau’s father and sisters were rather different than any portrayal of them that I’ve read, as well. I didn’t particularly like any of them except the oldest sister, but they provided a nice contrast.

The Iffy Stuff

The negative review I read said the Beast was essentially a voyeur and that was a large part of the reviewer’s problem with the book. So, I went into this expecting him to basically be a peeping Tom, mainly on Isabeau. Which wasn’t really what happened at all. Again, YMMV and of course if it bothers someone they should say so! However…the so-called voyeurism occurs at the behest of the Beast’s magic mirror, which is part of his house’s magic. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t – and not always when he wants it to. The book DOES use the mirror A LOT to let the reader see perspectives other than the Beast’s, which is effective but given that he is seeing everything that we are, is kind of…odd. But then, what exactly is normal about his circumstances? He’s much, much older than anyone else still living. His house magically manifests food and clothes. His lands are in all four seasons at once. What’s a magic mirror added to all that? Also, the fact that sometimes it just shuts him off made a difference to me. Sometimes, even when he desperately wants to see something, the mirror says no.

Overall, 4/5 stars. I wish I had been a little more invested in Isabeau and the Beast’s romance, but it was still very sweet and they are both very likeable characters. I loved the descriptions of the old, crumbling yet magical castle and grounds. I especially loved how the Fairy’s relationship to the Beast’s family, particularly his grandmother, was revealed. I’ll definitely be getting a copy of this for my shelf!

Blog | Twitter | Bloglovin | Instagram | Google+


------------------------------------
I have so many thoughts about this book. Also I'm conflicted about whether to count this as a 2018 or 2019 release because I got a copy of the ARC for the US version, which releases this month, but it came out in the UK last year...anyway, full RTC!

[Jeann (Happy Indulgence) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Check out Happy Indulgence Books for more reviews!

Trigger warnings: abusive behaviour, manipulation, voyeurism, attempted suicide

I was excited to read this book because I loved Beauty and the Beast, but within a few pages, I couldn't help but have major creepy vibes at Beast's perspective. Not only do we get to hear his terribly isolating thoughts at having to lure a woman to his den only to keep him company, but we also witness his voyeuristic hobby of him spying on her family. It's like the abuser has finally been given a voice, and there's nothing here that makes me emphasise with him.

If anything, it makes the alarm bells ring even sooner, as we know that he is truly sickened at his actions yet he keeps on doing them - simply because he feels like he has no choice. Looking at things from Isabeau's perspective - she's asked by a terrifying Beast to stay and keep him company for a year, and is continually harrassed and cajoled into spending time with him. Only the most tolerant, kind-hearted woman would keep being subjected to the torture - but also, you can also sense that she's doing it out of fear of repercussion for saying no.

The abusive, manipulative behaviour gets even more problematic as it goes on - Isabeau is perhaps the only woman that Beast has found himself in the company of for decades, and he decides very quickly that he's love with her. He takes it upon himself to force his company on her presence - even when she rejects him and says she needs time alone. He continually asks her to marry him, over and over again, making both of them utterly uncomfortable and I couldn't help but assume that it was going to wear thin. At no point is it even addressed that his behaviour crosses the line into abuse or behaviour that shouldn't be tolerated, which kind of romanticises the persistance of males when faced upon rejection.

At no point during the book did I feel any sort of chemistry from either one of them - the Beast falling for Isabeau simply for her patience, beauty and company and in reverse, Isabeau only feeling sorry for him because of his loneliness. Instead, we're given a forced plotline of her sisters being happy and the dreams that she has of being together with the Beast to force the issue and I really didn't like where it all headed.

I was also creeped out with how the Beast spends his days - spying on her family through a magic mirror, and at one stage he even admits to watching Isabeau undress. I wasn't very interested in the subtle matchmaking that occurred when it came to her sisters, and admittedly skimmed a lot of these scenes later in the book.

With it's slow and agonising pace, romanticisation of an abusive relationship and the boundaries that it crossed when it came to female/male relations, I really can't recommend The Beast's Heart. While I did like the twist on the Beauty and the Beast retelling, there were just too many elements that I found disturbing to be enjoyable.

I received a review copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

[Anja H. · Rating 3 out of 5]

*3.5 BEASTLY STARS*

“There is always a way to break a curse.”

I love retellings, and Beauty and the Beast is my favorite fairy tale ever, so I was totally hyped when Netgalley provided me with a copy of this novel! I loved that we got to experience this beautiful tale through the Beast’s eyes. I loved the unique magical aspect of of it all, even though I did miss all the original secondary characters like Lumière and Cogsworth!

The story itself unfortunately progressed very slowly and it took me a while to get into this. Mainly because of the outdated writing style and vocabulary that was being used, due to this being set in seventeenth-century France. The second half of the book picked up the pace though, and I also got used to the language.
The story itself was refreshing and had some twists that weren’t in the original. I also loved that the story incorporated Isabeau’s family, even though I wished the focus was more on the relationship between Isabeau and the Beast.

All in all, a good retelling for Beauty and the Beast fanatics like me, but otherwise this might not be for you.

Received a free copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

[Kate Forsyth · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Beast's Heart by debut Australian author Leife Shallcross is a retelling of the classic French fairy-tale ‘La Belle et la Bête’, told from the perspective of the Beast. Like many lovers of fairy-tales, it is one of my own personal favourites and I have drawn upon its symbols and structures in my own novel, The Beast’s Garden, which is set in Nazi Germany.

Leife Shallcross’s novel is a much more conventional fairy-tale retelling, set in a magical world of castles and forests and curses. I do not call it conventional as a perjorative: I love this type of story. Authors such as Robin McKinley, Juliet Marillier, Helen Lowe, Shannon Hale and Edith Pattou have all enchanted me with their reimaginings of old tales, and The Beast’s Heart deserves to take its place amongst the best of them.

The original tale was written by the French novelist Gabrielle-Suzanne Barbot de Villeneuve and published in 1740. It was then greatly reduced and simplified by Jeanne-Marie Le Prince de Beaumont and re-published in 1756, just thirty-three years before the French Revolution. It is Mme Beaumont’s version which is best known, and which Leife Shallcross has drawn upon rather than the 1991 Disney animated film.

One key difference is that Belle has sisters in the original tale, and their challenges and love affairs add action and humour to Leife Shallcross’s tale, as the Beast watches them through his magic mirror.

Leife Shallcross writes beautifully, and there is a great deal of charm in the depiction of the Beast and his longing for friendship and love. The Beauty of the tale is also brought to life with depth and complexity. She is called Isabeau, which is a name I love (I called the heroine of my own debut novel Isabeau too!)

I also loved the depiction of the Fairy and the unexpected reasons for her casting the curse.

There has been a fashion in recent years for depicting fairy-tales as dark, violent, and sexually charged fantasies, but I prefer this more lyrical and romantic style. The action of the plot unfolds slowly and sensitively, and time is taken to bring the magical world vividly to life.

A compelling and surprising retelling of ‘Beauty & the Beast’, this debut offering from an Australian author is filled with peril, darkness, romance and beauty. Utterly enchanting!

[Mogsy · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 of 5 stars at The BiblioSanctum https://bibliosanctum.com/2019/02/14/...

Few retellings invite more scrutiny from me than Beauty and the Beast, one of the most beloved fairy tales, so I was quite surprised at how much I enjoyed this. As retellings go, The Beast’s Heart by Leife Shallcross is pretty low-key, focusing on atmosphere and emotion instead of miring itself in attempts at audacious new twists. This makes it a somewhat slow and plodding tale, and while not all will have the patience for this, on my part I relished every moment.

Told from the perspective of the Beast, our story begins in the enchanted forest where our protagonist lives with the curse cast upon him long ago. Slowly, painfully, he begins to remember the man he once was, but has no memory of why he was made into this beastly form, let alone how to break the curse. For many years he lives alone in his crumbling castle where the magic of the place seems to know his very heart, for it appears to cater to his every need. But even his invisible servants cannot help him with his one true desire, until one day, a lone traveler arrives at his door seeking rest and shelter.

Allowed to stay the night, the traveler has dreams of his family as he slumbers. The Beast is able to see into them and is immediately drawn to the visions of the man’ s youngest daughter Isabeau, who had asked her father to bring her back a rose from his travels. As such, it is a rose that sets off the chain of events that leads to Isabeau to live with the Beast at his castle for one full year, though her father was also sent home with a treasure trove of gifts for his other daughters. For in this version of the tale, Isabeau has two older sisters, each dealing with their own private suffering at the loss of their youngest sibling who was the glue that held all of them together. Through letters delivered via an enchanted box as well as a magic mirror in the Beast’s chambers, readers are able to watch the family grow used to life without Isabeau, and in essence, we have two storylines: one following the Beast and Isabeau at the castle as he tries to win her heart to break the curse, and another less central one that focuses on the happenings back at Isabeau’s home with her Papa and sisters Claude and Marie.

My favorite part of this book is hands down Shallcross’ depiction of the Beast. He is no monster, and over time it becomes clear that there’s not a malicious bone in his body. In fact, I wasn’t even sure why he was cursed in the first place (though later we do get some answers). Regardless, the Beast is most definitely a man, and it is his compassion and humanity that eventually wins Isabeau over. That said, I was impressed with how the author still managed to convey the animalistic nature of the character, even if it was less in the way of a snarling, savage beast and more in the way of, say, a big snuggly St. Bernard. Admittedly, there was also a lot about this image I found pitying. So many times the Beast reminded me of a lovesick puppy trailing after Isabeau, hoping she’ll return his affections while powerless to affect his own situation. In a way though, this classic tortured hero motif worked well, and didn’t feel too out of place in the context of a fairy tale retelling.

I also enjoyed the parts we got to see of Isabeau’s sisters, because let’s face it—this book would have been terribly boring without them. This is not a fast-paced story to begin with, and there’s only so much you can show of the Beast and Isabeau’s daily routine before it becomes dull and repetitive, not to mention there are plenty of times where our protagonist is left alone to his own devices. Enter the magic mirror, in which he frequently checks up on how the rest of Isabeau’s family is doing. With fairy tale retellings being so common these days, I find it helpful when writing reviews to ask myself what makes one different and worth reading, and without a doubt, the answer for The Beast’s Heart is Claude and Marie. There’s a side story here involving the financial decline the family and the devasting effects it has had on all of them, and at the time of Isabeau’s departure, neither of her sisters were doing very well. Over time, however, we get to watch them pick themselves up and learn to be independent and flourish again, both in their personal ventures and in love. Unlike the original version of the Beauty and the Beast in which Beauty has elder sisters who are cruel and spoiled, Marie and Claude are sweet, sympathetic and care deeply about Isabeau. As such, both sisters’ individual stories were greatly endearing.

As for the atmosphere, The Beast’s Heart also offers a nice change of pace. It is dark, but not oppressively so; moody, but not to the point of being melodramatic. In fact, I found the whole book to be quite charming and lovely. But like I said, this is not a fast-paced read, and without the sections involving Isabeau’s sisters, this story probably could have been a short story instead of full-length novel. As you’d expect, there a ton of exposition and detail, albeit all written beautifully. Every now and then I also got the feeling the author was trying for some deeper meaning about what it means to be human (with the Beast’s plight) or even a lesson on self-reliance (because it took Isabeau’s absence for Claude and Marie to find their own strength) but in truth, I didn’t think the story needed any messages to be enjoyable in its own right.

All in all, The Beast’s Heart was a surprisingly good book, a passionately earnest and eloquent debut from Liefe Shallcross. A great read for lovers of quiet, evocative and lyrical fairy tale retellings, this interpretation told from the point-of-view of the Beast is well worth a look.

[destiny ♡ howling libraries]

I'm actually REALLY enjoying this story, and Jim Dale's narration in the audiobook is just... *chef kiss*

That said, I'm super not in the mood for audiobooks right now, so I'm setting this aside for a bit. ♥

[em · Rating 4 out of 5]

"For the longest time after the curse fell, I did not know if I was a beast who dreamed of being a man, or a man who dreamed he was a beast."

The Beast’s Heart is a retelling of the classic Beauty and Beast told from the beast’s POV. That’s exactly what drawn me to pick it up and to be fair that’s the biggest strength of this book. The Beast’s character quickly stole my heart, you guys know how tormented male characters do that to me.

As for the world building, the depiction of this well known setting was as beautiful as I expected and it had a few new elements to it that I definitely enjoyed.

However, it still was faithful to the dynamic and narrative of the original tale. Which didn’t help picking up my attention as much as if twists had been introduced into the story by the author. That, in addition to the fact that the pace was slightly slow and the writing was rather close to a classic style, brought my rating a tad down.

However I still believe it’s a good book, with a gorgeous atmosphere and a new glance at the story through the beast’s eyes.

rating: 3.3/5 ⭐️

*I received a copy from the Publisher in exchange for an honest review

[Kay Weston · Rating 5 out of 5]

Where has this book been all my life?

As with a lot of fellow readers and romance lovers, Beauty and the Beast is one of my all-time favourite fairy-tales and so the prospect of reading a re-telling of the story from the Beast's perspective was too good an opportunity to miss.

What's strange is that reading this book didn't feel like reading just another re-telling of Beauty and the Beast. It's a story that is entirely it's own and in certain aspects, extremely different than the original story.

The author writes beautifully, painting an enchanted world that springs to life from the pages. I adore the backstory, it's fantastically detailed and complex: the Fairy's motive, the Beast's life in the forest, the mirror, the house and it's servants, the garden, his gifts to Isabeau's family - it all works so well to create a compelling, driving story that I was unable to put down.

The Beast is captivating. His inner struggles and turmoil, which run so much deeper than appearances alone, alongside his longing for company and human interaction, made the story all the more compelling. The love in this story is powerful, life-changing and realistic in its growth (it's not insta-love but love and affection that grow over time from friendship.)

In addition to plenty of backstory and a side to the beast that we've never before seen, it was also interesting to be presented with Isabeau's family, and these three other characters who add so much to the story through their growth, tragedy and love.

Whilst reading, I couldn't help but draw comparisons to the original story, mostly in that this story offered more mature, emotionally complex, insightful details than the Disney version we're all familiar with. I also often found myself thinking of Pride and Prejudice, comparing Elizabeth and Isabeau due to their similarities in outspokenness and unwillingness to admit to one's feelings. It probably comes as no surprise that the Beast's portrait and his obsession and despair brought to mind Dorian Gray.

Overall, I fell in love with this story and the unique viewpoint it offered through the eyes of the beast. It's 5 stars from me and I will definitely be re-reading this book!

It's the story I never knew I needed. It made my heart quicken, my eyes tear and my imagination run wild.

Disclosure: I fell in love with the Beast so many times reading this that I may need therapy.

[BAM doesn’t answer to her real name · Rating 3 out of 5]

So Jim dale, narrator of the Harry Potter series, is reading this book so it’s a tad surreal. One character sounds like hermoine after a lifelong addiction to Marlboros. So it’s a sweet book although BEAST is way too solicitous. But it’s a great light read when one has been shoving de Balzac down her throat.

[Dianne · Rating 4 out of 5]

How did the Beast feel, what were his thoughts in the classic Beauty and the Beast tale? Leife Shallcross gives us her version of what emotional turmoil was that lay within THE BEAST’S HEART.

Do NOT expect a rehash of the classic, expect a darker, more emotionally grueling tale. The Beast gives his perspective, from his self-loathing, his loneliness, to the empty pit in his chest.

This is not a rapid fire tale, but there is a depth to it that puts a new perspective on what transpired between the young French girl, Isabeau and the Beast. From how Isabeau came to be a “guest” at the Beast’s castle to how the Beast clearly needed her company, I was enthralled with the “other side of the story.” We see the heartbreak of time running out for the Beast to find true love, to be accepted as he is, no longer a handsome man with a beastly heart, but a beast with a heart that has grown to learn to love and give.

I was transported into this world and could “see” events and scenes unfold in a castle filled with magic, pain and finally a leap of faith to put everything on the line for others and their happiness.

I received a complimentary ARC edition from Berkley Publishing Group!

Publisher: Ace (February 12, 2019)
Publication Date: February 12, 2019
Genre: YA Fairytale Retelling
Print Length: 416 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews, Giveaways, Fabulous Book News, follow: http://tometender.blogspot.com

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Beast's Heart is a Beauty and the Beast re-telling. It's a bit different than most as the story is told from the Beast's perspective.

I enjoyed this story. Shallcross' writing has a lyrical, fairy-tale feel to it. I liked the imagery and descriptions. It builds the emotion of the characters and the story to maximum...but it does make the story progress more slowly. If looking for a story that makes you feel all the feels...this is perfect. For those who want a more gripping, story-centric reading experience...this might not be your thing.

While this book is YA appropriate, it does have some very dark topics and imagery including abuse and attempted suicide.

All in all, I enjoyed this re-telling of my favorite fairy tale. The story is magical, heart-felt, emotional....and the Beast finally gets to tell things from his side!

**I voluntarily read an advanced readers copy of this book from Berkley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**

[Obsidian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Please note that I received this book via NetGalley. This did not affect my rating or review.

Well, this was okay. No big issues really, I just found myself bored reading it. We have how many retellings following Beauty from Beauty and the Beast? Well we get one told from the Beast's point of view. I compared this book a bit to "Beastly" since that's the only book I have read that told the story from the Beast's point of view. I have to say that this Beast doesn't seem to have been pretty pathetic. The author starts off with us following him after he's been turned. The flow though was off from beginning to end. Nothing picks up and I just didn't feel a sense of urgency about finishing (why it took me so long to complete).

"The Beast's Heart" has us following the Beast with Shallcross incorporating some Young Adult themes too. I for one would love it if we had a more adult Beauty and the Beast like with Ron Perlman and Linda Hamilton. Man, I was in love with Vincent...



Okay, back to the book. We have the Beast going through his tale of woe and of course he eventually meets his Beauty (Isabeau). Shallcross doesn't really do anything new with this. I think telling the story in the Beast's POV should have made me more engaged with the story, however, it just didn't work. Another reviewer mentioned how old the Beast sounded, and I got that feeling too. At one point I wondered if he was 100 years old or what. Some readers noted how this book was very voyeuristic since you get to read about the Beast spying on Isabeau's family via his magic mirror. The magic mirror plot device was in the cartoon, musical, and the latest musical. I think it's bothersome in this one since he uses it throughout the book to watch/spy on Isabeau.

Isabeau doesn't have much to do in this book. She just seemed kind of okay about the whole thing with the Beast. I needed to believe that she fell in love with him and needed him just as much as he needed her, and I never got that sense. Then again, she was a prisoner of his and was forced to keep him company. So you can see why as a reader she seemed to be kind of meh on things. I think "Beastly" was smart to move this into modern times and also include his "beauty's" consent to stay.

The house is another character in this one. No you don't have things talking to you. But as the relationship between the two characters improve, so does the castle.

Isabeau has sisters in this one unlike with the Disney version of Beauty. I have to say the main reason why I gave this 3 stars is that the sisters were a nice saving grace in this book. Shallcross has Marie and Claude as independent young women who struggle without their sister. Including them reminded me a bit of "Hunted" by Meagan Spooner who followed the sisters along with the main character of Yeva. Besides following Yeva, we followed her sisters who had to get along with her being there and had their own romances.

I really thought the writing was okay, nothing that really grabbed me. It just read as being try hard at times with Shallcross trying to mimic older fairytales. I get it, the Beast isn't modern, but good grief, it needed to make me want to keep reading. I think honestly this book was too long. This was over 350 pages and the flow of the book was slow throughout. It's okay if an author does that because the book is building to something great that is going to blow your mind. I didn't get my mind blown here. I just started getting more and more bored and wondering when they were going to get together to break his curse.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a finished copy of this novel from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own.

I remember first stumbling across the news of this book on Twitter and knowing I instantly needed it in my life… the trouble was I had to wait several months for it to even become available for review! The wait was completely worth it.
The Beast’s Heart is a magically woven retelling of the everlasting classic Beauty and the Beast. Shallcross does the original story justice with her beautifully written retelling – bringing the reader into a world of love, friendship, magic, darkness and beauty.

The Beast’s Heart is told from the Beast’s perspective, a unique insight these days when it comes to Beauty and the Beast retellings. Whilst at the beginning I found it hard to grasp onto the Beast and the exquisitely written chapters, I eventually found myself being pulled into his story, feeling his anguish and desires.

The magic within this book is mesmerising, it kept me curious from the very start, and stayed with me through to the end. The ‘servants’, the enchanted garden and home all provided delightful moments and the interactions the characters had with the magic, whether they knew they were doing it or not was fascinating.

The Beast and Isabeau’s relationship was what really drew me in and kept me turning each page in anticipation. The friendship they built was quite beautiful. Even through distance and tough times when they were together they still found time for one another. They brought joy and comfort to each other’s lives, even when one of them didn’t even really notice it till the end. They both grew over the timeline of this novel and seeing it through the Beast’s eyes and watching him start to regain his humanity through Isabeau and his own actions was an important transformation and part of his journey.

I loved also that they each had their own alone time, they did not spend the entirety of the novel in each other’s company. It gave us a chance to glimpse through the Beast’s mirror and watch how Isabeau’s family was coping without her. I found myself looking forward to these moments and watching other characters stories play out.

The plot flows elegantly throughout The Beast’s Heart and the centre of the story is forefront throughout the novel, the Beast and his curse – and the young maiden to break it. However I did not really enjoy the Fairy who cursed him scenes- whenever she popped up she was a bit confusing to me and I felt she was not really needed.

The Beast’s Heart is a rich and characterful retelling to a story that I love dearly. I found this retelling to hold a much darker depth to it than what I am use to; however, I wouldn’t have it any other way.

I will always smile at this book when I pass it on the bookshelf.

[Mackenzie - PhDiva Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

Whimsical and enchanting!

Leife Shallcross’s latest reimagining of the classic storyof Beauty and the Beast is more similar to Beaumont’s 18th century abridgedLa Belle et la Bête than it is the Disneyclassic—which is a total compliment! No offense to Disney, but the classic version of this story really has much more depth and darkness.

Reflection

In The Beast’s Heart,the story is retold from the perspective of The Beast. After spending over 100years trapped in an enchanted and dark forest, with no company but the unseenmagic of his stately home, The Beast longs to meet another soul. But he is confused, he has very little memory of who (if anyone) he was before and whathis curse entails. All he knows is that he is doomed to this body, unable to connect with others due to his appearance.

When he lures Isabeau to this chateau, he never dreamed offalling in love with her. But soon the magic of Isabeau’s kindess and lightseems to outshine even the most fantastic magic in his home. The Beast wantsIsabeau to himself, but he also desperately wants her to be happy. In a heart-warmingtale of healing, heart, and finding happiness, The Beast’s Heart shows a new and fresh perspective on a classictale.

I’m so happy that Leife Shallcross drew so many elementsfrom Beaumont’s version of the story. I’ve always found the complexity of Isabeau(Belle, for you Disney fans) to be related to her family, rather than just herfather. Though they don’t reference the brother’s in this version, she doeshave sisters and they play such an important role in the story.

I loved Claude and Marie. Rather than being one-dimensionalor paling in comparison to the perfect leading lady, Claude and Marie are sofilled with love and have such unique characterization. I would love to read aspinoff about Claude and Marie, and I’m delighted by how much we got to see ofthem!

There is a total YA vibe to this book that really worked. Iread the Beaumont version in high school myself, so this seems like the perfectgenre to place the story in. It crosses the threshold of “ageless”, where I cansee a parent reading this to a child, a young adult finding their own readinginterests, or an adult who loves whimsy enjoying this.

Fantastic work from Leife Shallcross, who is certainly a much-welcomed voice in fiction. Thank you to Berkley for my copy.

[Caroline · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 out of 5 stars

TW: abusive behaviour, attempted suicide.

I received an advanced copy of this at a blogger night I attended here in Sydney and I was so so excited to read this book. It's Beauty & the Beast from the Beast's perspective which just sounded incredibly interesting to me. I'll admit that I had my doubts going into this book because how do you make a character loveable when they are the 'villain' for a lot of the story?

There were a few things I enjoyed a lot about this book- the writing being the big one I'll mention. The descriptions of magic had an elegant flow to them and the world was lovely and vivid. There were times when things got a little dialogue or internal monologue heavy but when it was describing scenery and stuff like that I found it did a very good job.

Unfortunately though, this book was a bit of a letdown. The story dragged at times and then was resolved a little too quickly for my liking. I also found the Beast to be an odd character who I just wasn't a huge fan of; he ignored Isabeau's signals a number of times and made her very uncomfortable and his narration would just bother me at times like that.

Overall I didn't mind this book, there were just a few things that held it back for me. A lot of people are definitely going to love it when it comes out though because there are plenty of cute moments and the writing is lovely.

[Elyse · Rating 4 out of 5]

Penguin First-to-Read ARC.

I thought this was cute spin on Beauty and the Beast. The well-loved story from the Beast's point of view. It was heartbreaking! I liked that Shallcross brought back the French-ness from the original story that wasn't seen much in the Disney animated movie or the newer live action movie. This story was a lot closer to the original. It was really good and I didn't want it to end! The magic of it was beautiful! I look forward to more Shallcross books, hopefully more fairy tale retellings!

[Barb (Boxermommyreads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first thing that comes to mind with this book is that it is pretty darn wordy. It clocks in around 416 pages and while it isn't filled with information dumping, it is filled with description. This is sometimes annoying, but it actually fits the fairy tale style of "The Beast's Heart" pretty good. That's not to say it could have been a tad shorter in my opinion, but on the whole, I still enjoyed it.

"The Beast's Heart" is a retelling of one of my two favorite fairy tales, Beauty and the Beast. And I LOVE LOVE LOVE the Beast. I do find Belle somewhat annoying and some of that carried over to Isabeau, and there is one aspect of the Beast that drives me absolutely MAD in this version, but I still LOVE him. In this novel, we get the story from Beast's POV and it was absolutely wonderful to see what he experienced and learn about the curse and his following struggles through his own words. I also really enjoyed the side characters, Isabeau's family, who we see through a magical mirror that allows Beast to check in on them. Marie and Claude are quite interesting and have stories of their own.

I don't feel I really need to give you much on the plot because we all know how it ends right? Or at least I am assuming most people do or why are you considering this book? But I still feel if this is a tale you love, then you need to give Shallcross' version a chance. Just be prepared for a lengthy read but enjoy getting lost in the prose.

[enqi ☾⋆˚*̣̩✩]

i don't know what this is but i know i need it

[K.S. Marsden · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lonely Beast in a long-forgotten, enchanted castle is desperate for anyone to come. After a chance encounter with a lost traveller, Beast gains the company of Isabeau, a young woman who is feeling displaced with life.

I received a free copy from Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.

This is a Beauty & the Beast retelling from the Beast's perspective (as if you hadn't guessed).

OK, normally I start with what I like, and work towards the stuff that didn't impress me. With this review, I'm working backwards. Maybe because I only liked the book towards the end, or maybe because the Beast's situation just annoyed me.

As I said before, this was a Beauty & the Beast retelling. We all know the basics - a smart, and beautiful young girl gets trapped in a castle by a terrifying Beast. The Beast is a rather horrible human, cursed to exist as a monster. He is temperamental, prone to fits of rage and stubbornness. Stop me if I'm wrong.

The Beast's Heart agrees for the most part. It tells you that the Beast is a cursed man, who was horrible and arrogant, and blind to the hurt he was causing others. It's tweaked slightly, in that his father was the aggressive one, and the Beast was cold-hearted and distant.
So that's what we are told about his history, and how that might affect his character...

I never felt it had any bearing the actual Beast we are following.
Along with the historical tone of the book, it made me feel like I had opened Pride & Prejudice half-way through, at the point where Darcy has overcome all of his character faults, and the reader can see what a good man he is, even if Elizabeth Bennett is still ignorant of all his good-doings.

What I'm trying to say is, we are told that the Beast has X, Y, and Z faults; but they were never displayed. He is a good chap, very thoughtful and caring towards Isabeau and his magical servants. He has flashes of stubbornness and depression, but overall he is a nice guy, and you know immediately that he wouldn't harm a fly.
I was left wondering why the Beast had been cursed in the first place.

Isabeau was a nice character. She was brought up in a wealthy family, who hit hard times. She isn't afraid of hard work, and has been shouldering a lot of the family's duties. She has a stubborn streak, and can be as morose as the Beast, so they make a perfect pair.
Overall, I found the story between Beast and Isabeau to be very dry and dull. They are both nice people, and as they are trapped within an enchanted castle, things are very repetitive.

My favourite part of the story, was Isabeau's sisters. In many stories, they are cast as lazy and spiteful, etc. But in The Beast's Heart, they are fully-rounded characters with their own desires and troubles. They do depend too much on their little sister, but once Isabeau has left, they come into their own, and find joy in their new lives.
I loved following their stories to the very end.

I was about half-way through this book, when I realised I did care what happened to the characters, and how they would work out their conflicting lives.
I came away with a somewhat fond feeling towards the book. It is really sweet, in the end, it is just a very slow builder.

[Annie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the pleasure of receiving this ARC from Hachette Publishers: Date a Book Team during their exclusive blogger night and I also had the pleasure of engaging in a read along with 3 amazing bloggers who are also dear friends and the author herself! (Now a dear friend to us all) this was so beautifully written - I felt like I was reading a classical, melodic, fairytale with all the feels that really came to life in my mind!!! An amazing story that developed beautifully, fantastically well defined characters, the author did such a great job in reimagining the tale that’s old as time and really took us deep into the heart of the beast - a story no one has heard before but must read now. Beautiful writing and language, amazing characters you grow to love and a beast who I just want to hug! Special thanks to Hachette Publishers Date a Book Team for this ARC, my blogger friends and author Leife Shallcross for an epic read along experience!!!! Oh.. the love.. the feels.. a book I needed to take a moment of silence for right at the end.. Just beautiful!!!

[Sam Hawke · Rating 5 out of 5]

**Disclaimer (to pinch the lovely transparent wording that Robin Hobb uses): I obtained an ARC from the author who is a personal friend. I don't think this influenced my opinion, but disclosing in the interests of transparency.**

I posted on twitter after I finished this book this morning that I think I might have a new favourite Beauty and the Beast retelling. This was at least on par for me with my previous favourite (Robin McKinley's Beauty). I don't read a lot of fairy tale retellings but I have a real weakness for BatB and this managed to encapsulate all the things I love about it while avoiding the problematic aspects of the classic tale. I particularly liked the origins of the curse in this version, and the twist on Isabeau's father's health.

Gorgeous writing, perfect characterisation, and a level of magic and romance that provides a welcome respite from the real world at the moment. Couldn't recommend highly enough.

[Wendy ⏃: ✦The Life of A Book Nerd✦ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 STARS!

The Beast's Heart by Leife Shallcross is a spellbinding retelling of the classic story, Beauty and the Beast yet Leife makes the story her own!

Told from the Beast's point of view only, there is lots of magic and one creepy looking fairy, but there is no talking candlestick here.

The beginning was difficult for me to grasp, as the story progressed I began to feel the anguish of the Beast. He's wounded, angry, filled with self-hatred, and lonely. The Beast's Heart was very descriptive but at times it slowed the pace of the story down. Regardless, I enjoyed the magical aspects as well as the secondary characters, and the epilogue is what dreams are made of.

An unlikely friendship between Isabeau and the Beast blooms into something more. With time, will Isabeau learn to love the Beast? Read and find out.


*AN ARC WAS KINDLY PROVIDED BY THE PUBLISHER VIA NETGALLEY IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW.*

[Elevetha · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars.

Slow-moving Beauty and the Beast retelling, from the Beast's POV. Bit too ponderous and long-winded sometimes, but I loved seeing more of Beauty's family and came to enjoy seeing their side of the story more than even Isabeau and Beast's. It doesn't do a whole lot different or unique from the original fairytale, I don't think, except just giving a lot more content and delving a lot deeper in some spots.

Where I struggled with it, outside of the length at times, was firstly, the last 20 pages didn't endear me much to either Isabeau or Beast. The whole tone of the book changed, and it got a little bit more of a sexual undertone, without actually getting sexual as they were very clear that wasn't happening till they got married, and didn't seem in line or to jive well with the rest of the book earlier. It had more to do with the vibe than any actual content, so others might not get that same reaction as I did. I didn't like that Isabeau was so chill about Beast having been watching her (undress, apparently?? Not made clear throughout the book but he admits to it at the end) and her family for ages and didn't share that with her. I get why he kept the mirror a secret but I also think she would have been pissed off, to be honest, upon discovery of it. The other issue I had was to do with Beast and his curse, which was just badly explained on all counts and I couldn't get a handle on what he'd actually done (if anything????) to deserve the curse. The fairy/enchantress is meant to have been his grandmother's....lesbian lover? (it's not spelled out (ha) in uncertain terms but I do think that was the goal) and felt the need to curse her lover's favorite grandson so he wouldn't become like his father/wouldn't break his grandmother's heart? I dunno, someone tell me if I've got that right or not.

It's a good Autumnal read, when you want something magical and slow, a bit cozy, and to allow yourself to get a bit lost in the world.

[Brin · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ok, because my lovely friend Marta is sitting on my desk flicking through museum pamphlets and telling me I should start my review on a positive to soften the blow, I’ll say that the writing in The Beast’s Heart was pretty good. Leife has a lovely style of prose, there’s no doubt about that. It’s just a shame about the content.

So The Beast’s Heart is a retelling of Beauty and the Beast as told from the perspective of the Beast. This makes for a difficult story to tell, admittedly, since in the original tale the Beast spends a lot of time presenting as the villain of the story. Finding that balance between staying true to the original story and making the Beast a likeable, compelling character isn’t easy. Yeah, erm, The Beast’s Heart does not succeed.

The story is close to the original in terms of plot – sadly, because there were points that read so much like the rapid descent into a horror novel, such as the points when the Beast smashed his house up because the love interest had the audacity to have any agency or call him her ‘friend’, I thought that turning it into a horror story might be it’s saving grace right at the end. The Beauty, who in this book is called Isabeau, is coerced into staying in the Beast’s derelict castle for a year. Because she is so sweet and perfect and lovely and just a little bit mischievous and very occasionally clumsy – but only to the degree that’s it utterly darling and not actually a character trait let alone a character flaw – the Beast’s cobweb and moth ridden home starts to magically improve, which sets you up well for understanding that the magic system in this book is based entirely on convenience to the plot, as needed. The Beast starts to fall in love with her but oh no, he’s a Beast, she’ll never want him! Frankly, his appearance isn’t the problem - the problem is he’s a voyeuristic creepy with violent tendencies and an overall desperate, unpleasant personality.

The Beast, for his part, spends most of the story stalking… well, everyone really. Not only, through the aforementioned ‘Magic Powers of Convenience’, does he constantly know and follow where Isabeau roams in his abode, but he also owns a magic mirror that allows him to watch her family’s home life at his leisure. While this in itself is deeply problematic and creepy and gave me even more reason to hate the Beast with a furious passion, it was also kind of the saving grace of the book that just about pulled it out of a 1 star rating. Isabeau’s sisters, normally portrayed as selfish and vaguely antagonistic in retellings, are refreshingly by far the best things about the book. Unlike their honestly insipid sister, Marie and Claude have well developed and neatly completed character arcs that have them learning how to care for themselves without their sister’s help, and they get their own little romantic subplots that are a lot more enjoyable and a lot less yikes. I just rather wish the whole book had been about them, or at least had not been told in first person from the Beast’s perspective so the view of them wasn’t imbued with his opinions. If the book had solely been about the sisters I might have actually enjoyed it.

In the end, I found The Beast’s Heart deeply frustrating to read and downright worrying that it was framed as romantic. The Beast is manipulative and abusive and Isabeau is so unbelievably naïve and child-like that I felt uncomfortable reading it. I think, because Leife’s writing style is often beautiful in itself, she might go on to write some good things. That, however, will require a drastic change in subject matter.

[J O H N N Y · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book from the publisher via Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.

'The Beast's Heart' by Leife Shallcross was beautiful.

Synopsis: The story of the Beast is a famous one but this tells you the thoughts and emotions behind every action. Told from the Beast's view, we learn how and why he was cursed, what spurred his reign of terror and the decision to blackmail a sick old man. We learn how the curse can be lifted but we also see how the Beast's actions continue to affect the people left behind. Can the Beast learn to love? More importantly, can the Beast BE loved?

I want a Beast. I found him to be so charming and loveable. He was the perfect gentleman to Isabeau and I believe the curse saved him. He is very worthy of love. Was he depressed the majority of the book? Yes, he definitely was but can you blame him? All those years roaming the forest losing his humanity whilst never knowing how the curse could be broken. I'm sure anyone would become despondent and ill-tempered by that. I know the Beast is a man but I was stupidly surprised with how human he seemed. Not in the way he dressed or acted but in his thoughts and the way he reasoned with himself. After many years of solitude, the Beast was very mature in the way he came across and handled situations.

Even though the book is about the Beast and how Isabeau can break the curse, there are many other characters within the story. The Beast has a way of keeping in touch with Isabeau's family and so we are able to understand how they cope with the loss of their sister. Their story runs parallel to the Beast's and occasionally they entwine. I found this addition to the story entertaining and integral to Isabeau's progression. The character I enjoyed the most after the Beast is the magic. I suspect the fairy was behind the enchantments available within the house but sometimes the magic seemed to have a personality. It could admonish and be humorous which I found amusing.

I am most familiar with the Disney version of this tale however I much prefer this version of events. After reading this book, I did some research and noticed that the original story of Beauty and the Beast is much similar to this book. There are of course slight differences but the overall story is the same and I love it more because of this. There were some themes that were troubling. Suicide is attempted and talked about more than once. Rape and abuse are hinted at too. Despite these subjects, it's ultimately an uplifting book. There are plenty of smiles, laughs and jokes amongst the gloom that it reminds me of a spring day; showers of rain and the sun fight for dominance continually.

I really enjoyed this book. It is a slow read, there is no real action or heart pumping scenes however there were many scenes in which my eyeballs threatened to leak. It is a perfect view point of the Beast and I cannot wait to get my hands on the final copy!

"If it was a living nightmare that took me into the forest, it was most certainly a dream that brought me out of it..."