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Beastly Tales #1-3
The Beastly Tales: The Complete Collection: Books 1 - 3
From Book 1: ** Adult Romance **
Benella is concerned with two things--avoiding the two village boys who torment her and scrounging for food to help feed her family. Unfortunately, the best wild fruit and vegetables are near the walls of the estate, a dark misty place inhabited by an unforgiving beast.
When her tormentors lock her behind the massive gates, Benella knows her fate is sealed. Yet, the fate isn’t one she expects. Her encounter with the beast starts a bizarre cycle of bargaining for her freedom, a freedom the beast seems determined to see her lose.
A classic fairy tale with a seductively dark new twist, the Beauty and the Beast saga begins with Depravity.
Intended for mature readers due to sexual situations and moderate language. This book is part 1 of 3.
The completed Beastly Tales:
Depravity, Part 1
Deceit, Part 2
Devastation, Part 3
Benella is concerned with two things--avoiding the two village boys who torment her and scrounging for food to help feed her family. Unfortunately, the best wild fruit and vegetables are near the walls of the estate, a dark misty place inhabited by an unforgiving beast.
When her tormentors lock her behind the massive gates, Benella knows her fate is sealed. Yet, the fate isn’t one she expects. Her encounter with the beast starts a bizarre cycle of bargaining for her freedom, a freedom the beast seems determined to see her lose.
A classic fairy tale with a seductively dark new twist, the Beauty and the Beast saga begins with Depravity.
Intended for mature readers due to sexual situations and moderate language. This book is part 1 of 3.
The completed Beastly Tales:
Depravity, Part 1
Deceit, Part 2
Devastation, Part 3
- GenresRetellingsFantasyRomance
606 pages, Paperback
Published July 23, 2018
14 people are currently reading
89 people want to read
About the author
M.J. Haag
37 books1,012 followersMJ Haag is the bestselling author of the Beastly Tales and the Resurrection Chronicles. Writing as both MJ Haag and Melissa Haag, she has sold more than three hundred thousand copies worldwide and authored several other series, including the Judgement of the Six and Of Fates and Furies.
She thinks bios written in third person are hilariously pretentious and doesn't take much in life seriously, including her author photo.
She lives in Wisconsin with her three children and husband.
Connect with the Author:
Website
Instagram
Facebook
Check out her YA books at melissahaag.com
She thinks bios written in third person are hilariously pretentious and doesn't take much in life seriously, including her author photo.
She lives in Wisconsin with her three children and husband.
Connect with the Author:
Website
Check out her YA books at melissahaag.com
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
February 23, 2021
Adult Romance ?!!
What a funny joke!
A girl at sixteen is a part of Adult Romance. If so, we need to petition for a change in our laws.
I picked up this book because the blurb sounded intriguing.
I didn't expect a high school version of the Beauty and Beast comic fairytale.
It was a plain and simple retelling of fairytales- incorporating it's major plot from B&Beast and the side characters from Cinderella. Though it wasn't as charming as the originals even.
I didn't like ANY characters. They all felt very deficient to me. Like lacking depths in the character. Very 2D ..no no, forget about it - just plain 1D.
The children fairytales are simple because we only see the characters reacting at a particular situation. The qualities mentioned about the respective characters aren't proved within the story itself. It's just mentioned that he/she is a so and so girl. Or any proves given is very simple and plain. Which is why children find it easy to understand.
But when the age group is of the adult category. Okay, forget about it. When you itself state it as an Adult romance, you can't do it like it's a children's fairytale. You should focus on a better character building and most importantly to make the plot more intricate than at least it's fairytale version.
I say this as I have read quite a few Hades and Persephone retellings. Very few of them which I have read have a good depth in the characters and a plot intricate enough to remain intriguing till the last scene . I have also read retellings of the same with an extremely simple character development and a dragging plot.
Twilight series by Stephanie Meyer is often mocked by many because of it's cliched plot and reactions but is appreciated by many too for it's character development as people are invested in them. They feel like they know the characters and they support them. I am sure you have heard the question numerous times - Team Jacob or Edward ?
So, I would stress intricating the plot and character depth should be focused on while writing a retelling. This is seen deficient in many retellings.
What a funny joke!
A girl at sixteen is a part of Adult Romance. If so, we need to petition for a change in our laws.
I picked up this book because the blurb sounded intriguing.
I didn't expect a high school version of the Beauty and Beast comic fairytale.
It was a plain and simple retelling of fairytales- incorporating it's major plot from B&Beast and the side characters from Cinderella. Though it wasn't as charming as the originals even.
I didn't like ANY characters. They all felt very deficient to me. Like lacking depths in the character. Very 2D ..no no, forget about it - just plain 1D.
The children fairytales are simple because we only see the characters reacting at a particular situation. The qualities mentioned about the respective characters aren't proved within the story itself. It's just mentioned that he/she is a so and so girl. Or any proves given is very simple and plain. Which is why children find it easy to understand.
But when the age group is of the adult category. Okay, forget about it. When you itself state it as an Adult romance, you can't do it like it's a children's fairytale. You should focus on a better character building and most importantly to make the plot more intricate than at least it's fairytale version.
I say this as I have read quite a few Hades and Persephone retellings. Very few of them which I have read have a good depth in the characters and a plot intricate enough to remain intriguing till the last scene . I have also read retellings of the same with an extremely simple character development and a dragging plot.
Twilight series by Stephanie Meyer is often mocked by many because of it's cliched plot and reactions but is appreciated by many too for it's character development as people are invested in them. They feel like they know the characters and they support them. I am sure you have heard the question numerous times - Team Jacob or Edward ?
So, I would stress intricating the plot and character depth should be focused on while writing a retelling. This is seen deficient in many retellings.
May 30, 2021
book 1
I liked this the moment I saw a tiktok describing it!! This was a fast read but i’m excited for the other 2 books and I just love a beauty & beast retelling.
book 2
Huh?! Okay maybe this isn’t my favorite book of the 3. More development but like some characters need a boot to their heads.
book 3
So… I forgot she’s 16 throughout this whole series. That’s a little unnerving. And nobody helping her with he issues within the village is still like so horrible. The enchanted Lord has had no character development it’s so upsetting like what is the original plot? And her coming to terms that she loved the beast and not him as himself was weird because he was acting virtually the same. Just more horny. Also I get the whole ugly sisters thing we need in fairy tales but oh my goodness they are absolutely horrible the author had the character tolerate them way too long. Mostly everyone else but the main characters made this book however. Ila, Henick, the children and moms from the villages, Kara (as head cook), even Rose, though she got far to annoying with her notes. This book actually felt very long to me and I’m not sure whether I liked that or not but I’ve read it and it was fine.
I liked this the moment I saw a tiktok describing it!! This was a fast read but i’m excited for the other 2 books and I just love a beauty & beast retelling.
book 2
Huh?! Okay maybe this isn’t my favorite book of the 3. More development but like some characters need a boot to their heads.
book 3
So… I forgot she’s 16 throughout this whole series. That’s a little unnerving. And nobody helping her with he issues within the village is still like so horrible. The enchanted Lord has had no character development it’s so upsetting like what is the original plot? And her coming to terms that she loved the beast and not him as himself was weird because he was acting virtually the same. Just more horny. Also I get the whole ugly sisters thing we need in fairy tales but oh my goodness they are absolutely horrible the author had the character tolerate them way too long. Mostly everyone else but the main characters made this book however. Ila, Henick, the children and moms from the villages, Kara (as head cook), even Rose, though she got far to annoying with her notes. This book actually felt very long to me and I’m not sure whether I liked that or not but I’ve read it and it was fine.
February 1, 2025
I grew up on Disney and the tale of beauty and the beast. Therefore, when I found out that there’s a book an adult book on the story of beauty and the beast. I just started it. and I did not regret at all. I loved it. sure, sometimes I wanted to snap the FMC but anyways I loved it
September 24, 2020
Fairy-tale retelling.
February 7, 2021
One of the best series! One of the top favorites, and I have read and reread this series so many times. The intricate weaving if this story was absolutely superb!
December 10, 2024
Good read
Good retelling of the classic tale. Worth the read I was pleasantly surprised by the author and the tale. Enjoy!
Good retelling of the classic tale. Worth the read I was pleasantly surprised by the author and the tale. Enjoy!
August 24, 2025
Was a decent book but, did not like the main character is only 16.
February 12, 2024
Beauty and the Beast is one of my favourites. This retelling is a close second after the ‘original’ version by Disney.
June 16, 2022
Please note; my star rating on any book is completely subjective and limited to the label for each star.
1 Star I didn’t like it
2 Stars It was okay
3 Stars I liked it
4 Stars I really liked it
5 Stars It was amazing!
If I do actually have something to say about a book other than what my enjoyment factor was, I will write a review and share my thoughts. If I say I didn’t like a book but there wasn’t anything about it that I thought needed to be shared, then that’s it, I just didn’t like it.
If you’d like to start a discussion about a book or you’d like an actual review, ask any question you like and I’ll be happy to try and comply/respond.
Additional note; I do not feed the trolls. If you don’t have something constructive to say, or if you can’t say it in a respectful way, you won’t get a response from me. Ever.
1 Star I didn’t like it
2 Stars It was okay
3 Stars I liked it
4 Stars I really liked it
5 Stars It was amazing!
If I do actually have something to say about a book other than what my enjoyment factor was, I will write a review and share my thoughts. If I say I didn’t like a book but there wasn’t anything about it that I thought needed to be shared, then that’s it, I just didn’t like it.
If you’d like to start a discussion about a book or you’d like an actual review, ask any question you like and I’ll be happy to try and comply/respond.
Additional note; I do not feed the trolls. If you don’t have something constructive to say, or if you can’t say it in a respectful way, you won’t get a response from me. Ever.
December 27, 2023
6 Stars!
MJ Haag has written an awesome adult version of a -Beauty & the Beast inspired story (that's one of my favorite Disney movies when my daughter was a little girl). I really enjoyed this 3 book series. Would highly recommend this series. Some of my favorite books that I've re-read so many times, & I don't normally re-read books! Looking forward to more books from MJ Haag! Just couldn't put these down, drove me crazy wanting to know what happened next...& wow, no disappointment for me! What a good story!
*For the people who are upset over the 16-17 year age of the FMC, this is set in a sort of past, almost like a historical type feudal system (but includes magic), not like present day, but when it was common for women to be married off by 16-17 & even arranged marriages.*
MJ Haag has written an awesome adult version of a -Beauty & the Beast inspired story (that's one of my favorite Disney movies when my daughter was a little girl). I really enjoyed this 3 book series. Would highly recommend this series. Some of my favorite books that I've re-read so many times, & I don't normally re-read books! Looking forward to more books from MJ Haag! Just couldn't put these down, drove me crazy wanting to know what happened next...& wow, no disappointment for me! What a good story!
*For the people who are upset over the 16-17 year age of the FMC, this is set in a sort of past, almost like a historical type feudal system (but includes magic), not like present day, but when it was common for women to be married off by 16-17 & even arranged marriages.*
December 7, 2018
One of the best sexy retellings of beauty and the beast!! Not the disney version more like real life!! I loved it!!! So much love, compassion, and an emotional roller coaster!! Must read !
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews