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Beast
Stories and myth twist the truth. And that's what keeps Damia’s family safe.
For years, they have blended in with the mundane to keep their existence a secret. Though they’re only ever a few steps ahead of being discovered, it’s the way they’ve survived for her entire life. Likewise, Damia has her own secrets she keeps. She works from the shadows for a vigilante group whose duty it is to eliminate corrupt men and women in authority.
Someone, or something, has begun killing her sisters-in-arms. Anyone could be next—including her. But when her brother throws himself head-first into a glory hunt, his consequences leave their family’s exposure at risk. Now, Damia’s left with a choice: protect her loved ones in their moment of imminent danger, or come to the aid of her vigilante in theirs. She must jeopardize one part of her life to save the other. Either way, her own safety is on the line.
And time's running out to decide.
For years, they have blended in with the mundane to keep their existence a secret. Though they’re only ever a few steps ahead of being discovered, it’s the way they’ve survived for her entire life. Likewise, Damia has her own secrets she keeps. She works from the shadows for a vigilante group whose duty it is to eliminate corrupt men and women in authority.
Someone, or something, has begun killing her sisters-in-arms. Anyone could be next—including her. But when her brother throws himself head-first into a glory hunt, his consequences leave their family’s exposure at risk. Now, Damia’s left with a choice: protect her loved ones in their moment of imminent danger, or come to the aid of her vigilante in theirs. She must jeopardize one part of her life to save the other. Either way, her own safety is on the line.
And time's running out to decide.
315 pages, ebook
Published July 1, 2021
6 people are currently reading
80 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
May 26, 2021
I LOVE MY WIFE AND I LOVE BEAST. Please give this book a chance - ollie deserves so much love for this book. I've seen this go from rough draft to finished copy and it is amazing. If you, like me, haven't found a decent Beauty and the Beast retelling then this book is for you.
July 2, 2021
BEAST by Ollie Doherty is a great blend of horror and dark fantasy loaded with all kinds of action. I went into this book pretty blind and it worked for me. The characters (especially Damia!) are all extremely well-crafted and exude such personality on the pages. The dynamics between the characters and groups are engaging and entertaining. The world building from Doherty is on another level - and I hope there will be more to come! The element of mystery is another thing this novel has going for it - I was on edge the whole book just guessing and wondering what would come next. That is the kind of story I like to read! And did someone say LGBTQ+ rep? Get it here! Definitely on the lookout for what this author does next!
October 22, 2021
Thank you to the author for an ebook in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Beast is an epic fantasy about a family of wine merchants. Damia Gaan has been helping the family business while also being part of a secret society of assassins. When her brother heads off on a glory hunt, the family is left vulnerable. A string of serial murders has also left Damia's secret family in fear and unsure of who to trust. Damia is stuck between hard choices: who does she protect?
This is a story about monsters that hide and those in plain sight. I'm not sure but I definitely got a lot of vampire vibes from this story, but I'm still uncertain. I definitely am hoping for a sequel because I still have so many questions. This book is narrated by three people: Damia, her brother Julan and Silva, Damia's sister in arms. I really enjoyed both Damia's and Silva's POVs, but Julan was something else. I don't know if it was just how self-absorbed he was, but I did not like him. I'm willing to give him the benefit of the doubt though.
I enjoyed the world and the mystery of the book. I am excited to see more!
Rep: Sapphic female MC, achillean male MC, queer female MC, queer BIPOC female side character (likely to become a love interest), side BIPOC characters.
CWs: Abandonment, alcohol consumption/production (two MCs are wine distributors), animal death, blood, death, drug use, injury/injury detail, murder, violence. Moderate: kidnapping, sexual content.
Beast is an epic fantasy about a family of wine merchants. Damia Gaan has been helping the family business while also being part of a secret society of assassins. When her brother heads off on a glory hunt, the family is left vulnerable. A string of serial murders has also left Damia's secret family in fear and unsure of who to trust. Damia is stuck between hard choices: who does she protect?
This is a story about monsters that hide and those in plain sight. I'm not sure but I definitely got a lot of vampire vibes from this story, but I'm still uncertain. I definitely am hoping for a sequel because I still have so many questions. This book is narrated by three people: Damia, her brother Julan and Silva, Damia's sister in arms. I really enjoyed both Damia's and Silva's POVs, but Julan was something else. I don't know if it was just how self-absorbed he was, but I did not like him. I'm willing to give him the benefit of the doubt though.
I enjoyed the world and the mystery of the book. I am excited to see more!
Rep: Sapphic female MC, achillean male MC, queer female MC, queer BIPOC female side character (likely to become a love interest), side BIPOC characters.
CWs: Abandonment, alcohol consumption/production (two MCs are wine distributors), animal death, blood, death, drug use, injury/injury detail, murder, violence. Moderate: kidnapping, sexual content.
January 29, 2022
Ollie Doherty has a beautiful way with words. If you’re someone who likes anime, you might enjoy this one. Doherty captures every gesture. I’m not sure if this is a genre thing—it’s probably just me because I haven’t read a story like this before—but at times I struggled to follow along because of the amount of detail. I also wish that there were larger stakes in the story; I was craving more of a “hero’s journey” kind of thing with the two main protagonists.
That said, Doherty’s sentences ring like music. My favorite part of the book was her physical setting descriptions; the locations felt alive! Huge *high five* to Ollie Doherty for her debut novel! Thanks so much for sharing it with me. :)
That said, Doherty’s sentences ring like music. My favorite part of the book was her physical setting descriptions; the locations felt alive! Huge *high five* to Ollie Doherty for her debut novel! Thanks so much for sharing it with me. :)
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July 18, 2021**I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review**
Beast is the first book in a new fantasy series that follows multiple perspectives and features LGBTQIA+ representation, a mystery, a secret order of assassins, political intrigue, romance, and more.
The book itself has a lot of world building in ways that aren't huge sections of exposition but more so drop the reader into the world and give tidbits along the way to build up the setting. This isn't a favorite for every reader, but I personally liked getting to see the world unfold alongside the story. There are scenes that do feature more informative sections of what the world is like and the backgrounds of the characters, but these fit well within the context of the story.
The story's pacing takes awhile to get into, as can often be the case with first books in fantasy where world building and storyline introductions are being set up. However, this story does emphasize tension and atmospheric suspense and mystery even in the first two thirds where it's much more build up. The final third is where a lot of the action does occur and there's payoff for the stories that have been set up. There were plot twists I didn't see coming, and the rest of this series will definitely have some major events that have kicked off in the first novel.
Overall, the multiple perspectives were written well and each felt distinct. Damia's was probably my personal favorite to follow, as her character had stakes in both the mysterious order of assassin's world, the trading and merchant stories that featured into the story frequently, and the political intrigue. Silva's took some more time for me to get into but was still a solid storyline. I think overall my least favorite was Julan's narration mostly because his character is still very much one I think is going to develop with the series. Each storyline and narration was unique, and set up some big questions for how the series will develop.
I think Beast is a story that has some good world building and still has moments where the reader isn't fully aware of the scope and everything going on which can be built out in subsequent books. The characters overall were interesting, but I think will also definitely grow and have more depth with the next installment. Finally, I think this is a fantasy book that has some romance, but is definitely lighter on the romance and much more emphasis is placed on the mystery and suspenseful elements within this fantasy world. I think if you enjoy suspense and intrigue in your fantasy as well as stories that feature trade and political elements, this could be one you would enjoy!
As noted above, I received a free e-copy of Beast in exchange for an honest review. The book is currently available for purchase on the author's website. Thank you again to Ollie Doherty for providing a copy of this to review!
Beast is the first book in a new fantasy series that follows multiple perspectives and features LGBTQIA+ representation, a mystery, a secret order of assassins, political intrigue, romance, and more.
The book itself has a lot of world building in ways that aren't huge sections of exposition but more so drop the reader into the world and give tidbits along the way to build up the setting. This isn't a favorite for every reader, but I personally liked getting to see the world unfold alongside the story. There are scenes that do feature more informative sections of what the world is like and the backgrounds of the characters, but these fit well within the context of the story.
The story's pacing takes awhile to get into, as can often be the case with first books in fantasy where world building and storyline introductions are being set up. However, this story does emphasize tension and atmospheric suspense and mystery even in the first two thirds where it's much more build up. The final third is where a lot of the action does occur and there's payoff for the stories that have been set up. There were plot twists I didn't see coming, and the rest of this series will definitely have some major events that have kicked off in the first novel.
Overall, the multiple perspectives were written well and each felt distinct. Damia's was probably my personal favorite to follow, as her character had stakes in both the mysterious order of assassin's world, the trading and merchant stories that featured into the story frequently, and the political intrigue. Silva's took some more time for me to get into but was still a solid storyline. I think overall my least favorite was Julan's narration mostly because his character is still very much one I think is going to develop with the series. Each storyline and narration was unique, and set up some big questions for how the series will develop.
I think Beast is a story that has some good world building and still has moments where the reader isn't fully aware of the scope and everything going on which can be built out in subsequent books. The characters overall were interesting, but I think will also definitely grow and have more depth with the next installment. Finally, I think this is a fantasy book that has some romance, but is definitely lighter on the romance and much more emphasis is placed on the mystery and suspenseful elements within this fantasy world. I think if you enjoy suspense and intrigue in your fantasy as well as stories that feature trade and political elements, this could be one you would enjoy!
As noted above, I received a free e-copy of Beast in exchange for an honest review. The book is currently available for purchase on the author's website. Thank you again to Ollie Doherty for providing a copy of this to review!
June 29, 2021
BEAST was surprising and action packed. It had many different elements blended in like dark fantasy, horror, dark folklore and mystery.
The world building was magnificent with archetypal myths mixed in. It was intricate and intriguing.
Most of the time we are grasping for straws as we have to keep guessing what's gonna happen next or who is what. Where at times I enjoyed it like a game, sometimes it was annoying.
As for characters, I found almost all were well developed. At start, I was confused about the different characters but later they interwined in a way that I didn't ever imagine.
Damia was a strong badass female and I loved her. Though what creature she was is yet to found and I can't wait to know that.
I really liked Silva too. And Julan was one unique character !
The narration style and writing was good. Overall, it was a superb read with LGBT+ rep. I think there was something missing but can't pinpoint it (silly me ).. but still, enjoyed the book greatly and recommend it to those into dark fantasy.
Grateful to Ollie for providing me with a copy.
The world building was magnificent with archetypal myths mixed in. It was intricate and intriguing.
Most of the time we are grasping for straws as we have to keep guessing what's gonna happen next or who is what. Where at times I enjoyed it like a game, sometimes it was annoying.
As for characters, I found almost all were well developed. At start, I was confused about the different characters but later they interwined in a way that I didn't ever imagine.
Damia was a strong badass female and I loved her. Though what creature she was is yet to found and I can't wait to know that.
I really liked Silva too. And Julan was one unique character !
The narration style and writing was good. Overall, it was a superb read with LGBT+ rep. I think there was something missing but can't pinpoint it (silly me ).. but still, enjoyed the book greatly and recommend it to those into dark fantasy.
Grateful to Ollie for providing me with a copy.
June 2, 2021
Beast is this amazing story that had me locked in since the first chapter. Ollie has truly built a world full of mystery and wonder around every corner. The characters are lovable, the storyline is wonderful, keeps you wanting to read more, and ship builders, get your tools ready. This book is an amazing read and I can't wait to see what more is to come.
June 3, 2021
This is an absolutely amazing book that will have you hooked from the beginning with beautiful writing and excellent world building. I enjoyed it immensely and would definitely recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good fantasy book that's mixed with some dark folklore.
June 3, 2021
I loved every second of this book. Being ADHD I often struggle to find books I can just read through and this book had just enough of everything to keep me wanting more.
May 30, 2021
A fascinating and gripping first book in a fantasy series. The author creates an excellent and fully-realized world based on archetypal myths. The characters are three-dimensional and pull you immediately into the story. With several different groups of characters, all seemingly involved in their own story, they become brilliantly intertwined and the revelation at the end took me completely by surprise! I was ready to move on to the next book and I look forward to its release!
June 1, 2021
If you're looking for a book that will keep you guessing, has well-developed characters, some horror, some dark fantasy, and lgbtq+ representation, give this book a chance. You won't regret it.
May 27, 2021
Stunning, I really enjoyed reading it, has become one of my favorite books
May 20, 2021
If you have the opportunity to read this book you should do it-- you will 100% not regret it! This book was a page turner from start to finish. I read the whole book in about 24 hours and I'm already dying for the next installment. I love fantasy novels, and this one is unique in it's ability to be blatantly fantasy without ever stating it outright. You get hints of what you are dealing with throughout the book until you are sure you aren't mistaken, but the author assumes you will get it so she never feels the need to tell you the nature of the characters (werewolves? vampires? skin walkers? elves? you have to reach the conclusion for yourself, she just gives you the clues you need). The scenery is captivating and the characters are well thought out and have a lot of depth.
TL;DR: get this book ASAP and get to reading, you won't regret it.
TL;DR: get this book ASAP and get to reading, you won't regret it.
December 29, 2021
I really loved beast. The main thing is that you are always guessing at the straws. The author never states anything. Like the main character is a supernatural being but we never figure out specifically what she is. I personally think vampire but it could also be werewolf or anything else. I didn't give it 5 stars because I think there is room for improvement but overall a really good and unique fantasy story. I can't wait to read the next installment in the series.
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October 10, 2021This was such an atmospheric read. There are multiple layers to the plot and mysteries surrounding each one. It was easy to slip into this dark world, but difficult to figure out how all of the pieces would fit together. The characters are fleshed out and distinct, all working towards their own goals. My only criticism is that I would have liked to know more before the book ended!
September 15, 2021
I was sent a copy of this book for review.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~.
This was a multifaceted story with 3 main threads:
1. The Mother and the Sisters is a female-only group of assassins who hunt down evildoers. Their work is dangerous and recently some of the Sisters have been murdered or vanished while on assignment. Mother has refused to allow any of the remaining Sisters to investigate but Silva and Damia are determined to find out the truth.
2. While docked for trading, Julan goes hunting and confronts a mysterious being up in the mountains. He is accused of trespass and attempted murder by the Emaran people who control the lands. He is sentenced to a hefty fine or 38 years of servitude. Damia, his sister, takes his place but once they release him, he is determined to raise the funds to pay the debt. Julan ends up getting involved with the cunning, beguiling and beautiful Gabriel who agrees to pay the debt if Julan will do business with him. But what are Gabriel's true intentions?
3. Damia remains with the Emarans and begins to learn their strange ways and customs. She is captivated and intrigued by their leader, Eivelle but is also convinced that she and her people are hiding something and that Julan's story of extraordinary beings was real. The longer she stays the stronger her cravings for the fermented blood her family produces grows and her attraction to Eivelle becomes.
A 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 compelling story with a supernatural narrative. I sense that Damia and her family may be Vampires or something similar but the ambiguity keeps you guessing and craving answers. The 3 plots wove a complex story that came together perfectly. Julan and Gabriel's relationship was intense and complicated but inciting to read. Likewise the lure of desire though restrained that flowed between Damia and Eivelle was palpable and fascinating. The LGBTQ+ rep was refreshing as the characters' sexualities weren’t a focal point and the attractions between the characters were shown as just a natural element within the story. There are many questions to be uncovered and I look forward to book 2 to answer them.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~.
This was a multifaceted story with 3 main threads:
1. The Mother and the Sisters is a female-only group of assassins who hunt down evildoers. Their work is dangerous and recently some of the Sisters have been murdered or vanished while on assignment. Mother has refused to allow any of the remaining Sisters to investigate but Silva and Damia are determined to find out the truth.
2. While docked for trading, Julan goes hunting and confronts a mysterious being up in the mountains. He is accused of trespass and attempted murder by the Emaran people who control the lands. He is sentenced to a hefty fine or 38 years of servitude. Damia, his sister, takes his place but once they release him, he is determined to raise the funds to pay the debt. Julan ends up getting involved with the cunning, beguiling and beautiful Gabriel who agrees to pay the debt if Julan will do business with him. But what are Gabriel's true intentions?
3. Damia remains with the Emarans and begins to learn their strange ways and customs. She is captivated and intrigued by their leader, Eivelle but is also convinced that she and her people are hiding something and that Julan's story of extraordinary beings was real. The longer she stays the stronger her cravings for the fermented blood her family produces grows and her attraction to Eivelle becomes.
A 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 compelling story with a supernatural narrative. I sense that Damia and her family may be Vampires or something similar but the ambiguity keeps you guessing and craving answers. The 3 plots wove a complex story that came together perfectly. Julan and Gabriel's relationship was intense and complicated but inciting to read. Likewise the lure of desire though restrained that flowed between Damia and Eivelle was palpable and fascinating. The LGBTQ+ rep was refreshing as the characters' sexualities weren’t a focal point and the attractions between the characters were shown as just a natural element within the story. There are many questions to be uncovered and I look forward to book 2 to answer them.
December 20, 2021
Oh. My. Lanta.
Okay so I want to talk about this book. I have so much to say about what a BEAST this book is. A queer Beauty and the Beast retelling?! Uhhhhh yes please. Can I do it without spoilers? *whispers…. I don’t know if I can*
I was given a copy from Ollie to review and honestly I’m so sad it took me so long to finish. This was a fabulous retelling. Kept the bones of B&tB and fleshed it out with its own body entirely. I was amazed at how unique the story was while still keeping to the ideas from the original story.
So without spoilers (because apparently people don’t like those) here are my thoughts.
__________ creeps me tf out and is a skeeze.
__________ is infuriating. Their decisions are so selfish and completely on whims. Very self absorbed and probably needs to die in book 2 🤣😳🤭
__________ gave me the childlike empress meets forest nymph vibes and I am ten thousand percent all about that.
__________ is a level headed bad ass babe and I hope she gets to kick some major ass in book two because there’s so much ads kicking that needs to happen.
Also I couldn’t believe that when I thought one character was a _____ and then thought another was a _____ it turned out that they were actually all ______. Round of applause for creating that beauty of a plot point because it was brilliant. 🤣🤭🎉
The only thing I was sad about was that this book was short for the amount of information included. There are 3 (4) plot lines that are all going at the same time (which I totally dig) and I just wished there was a bit more building on one of them in particular. BUTTTTT I guess that’s why I now need to (nicely) harass the author for more books and (loudly) promote this book to hype it up to everyone else.
Okay so I want to talk about this book. I have so much to say about what a BEAST this book is. A queer Beauty and the Beast retelling?! Uhhhhh yes please. Can I do it without spoilers? *whispers…. I don’t know if I can*
I was given a copy from Ollie to review and honestly I’m so sad it took me so long to finish. This was a fabulous retelling. Kept the bones of B&tB and fleshed it out with its own body entirely. I was amazed at how unique the story was while still keeping to the ideas from the original story.
So without spoilers (because apparently people don’t like those) here are my thoughts.
__________ creeps me tf out and is a skeeze.
__________ is infuriating. Their decisions are so selfish and completely on whims. Very self absorbed and probably needs to die in book 2 🤣😳🤭
__________ gave me the childlike empress meets forest nymph vibes and I am ten thousand percent all about that.
__________ is a level headed bad ass babe and I hope she gets to kick some major ass in book two because there’s so much ads kicking that needs to happen.
Also I couldn’t believe that when I thought one character was a _____ and then thought another was a _____ it turned out that they were actually all ______. Round of applause for creating that beauty of a plot point because it was brilliant. 🤣🤭🎉
The only thing I was sad about was that this book was short for the amount of information included. There are 3 (4) plot lines that are all going at the same time (which I totally dig) and I just wished there was a bit more building on one of them in particular. BUTTTTT I guess that’s why I now need to (nicely) harass the author for more books and (loudly) promote this book to hype it up to everyone else.
June 12, 2021
It's always a risk to try a new author, but in this case it was well worth it.
We get three POVs and each one has a very distinct voice according to their personality, you´re never left guessing who you are reading now. Even more, all the characters are very well developed and their actions make complete sense and are never out of character -a pet peeve of mine that has ruined many books.
I liked that these characters and their world are quite complex but the author doesn´t hold your hand at any point or makes you read through huge infodumps. She gives you just the information you need at each point and lets you put the pieces together in a way that never made me feel lost or like I didn't understand what was going on. And it was great how each arc has a conclusion but still leaves you with so much intrigue you just HAVE TO KNOW what happens in the next book.
The other thing that I really liked about the format of the book is that the chapters are short and so packed with action that I couldn't put it down. It's clearly a plot driven book, and the action scenes left me feeling like I was reading a Jason Bourne book.
Beast doesn't get 5 stars just because I think there's room for improvement, but I do believe The blood of Reckoning has the possibility to become a 5 star series for me.
I´d recommend this book to any reader wanting to start with fantasy books but hesitating because they hate the endless descriptions or slow pace of epic fantasy.
PS: You have to admire the guts of an author willing to bypass Amazon and risk selling her books only on her site. Kudos to Ollie!!
We get three POVs and each one has a very distinct voice according to their personality, you´re never left guessing who you are reading now. Even more, all the characters are very well developed and their actions make complete sense and are never out of character -a pet peeve of mine that has ruined many books.
I liked that these characters and their world are quite complex but the author doesn´t hold your hand at any point or makes you read through huge infodumps. She gives you just the information you need at each point and lets you put the pieces together in a way that never made me feel lost or like I didn't understand what was going on. And it was great how each arc has a conclusion but still leaves you with so much intrigue you just HAVE TO KNOW what happens in the next book.
The other thing that I really liked about the format of the book is that the chapters are short and so packed with action that I couldn't put it down. It's clearly a plot driven book, and the action scenes left me feeling like I was reading a Jason Bourne book.
Beast doesn't get 5 stars just because I think there's room for improvement, but I do believe The blood of Reckoning has the possibility to become a 5 star series for me.
I´d recommend this book to any reader wanting to start with fantasy books but hesitating because they hate the endless descriptions or slow pace of epic fantasy.
PS: You have to admire the guts of an author willing to bypass Amazon and risk selling her books only on her site. Kudos to Ollie!!
June 29, 2021
I loved this book! I want more, can't wait for the sequel.
I liked reading about the diffeent paths of the characters and the way things were intertwined and that we learned more about the problems the characters faced. Damia and Silva were two of my favourite characters and I found Eivelle to be very intriguing. I now want to know more about the 'family' that Damia and Silva belong to. I sadly didn't care much about Julan and Gabriel, since I didn't feel like Gabriel was honest and straight-forward with everything. He seemed to be hiding things and I just couldn't get on board with that and the way that Julan was desperate to do something that would prove that he was worth more than he felt he was perceived as by his sister and father.
What I would've wanted more of are explanations - I wanted to know more about the creatures that populate the world. I have assumed that Damia might be a vampire but I don't know if that's what she is or if she might not belong to them. But I guess more in that way is going to come throughout the series.
Overall I absolutely enjoyed the journey I went on by reading this book! I now really want the sequel to be here already, but since Beast only comes out on July 1st, that's going to take a bit, I guess.
If you like stories that throw you right into it, then definitely give this a go and if you want to know more check out the author's website and instagram. I will definitely read the next book!
I liked reading about the diffeent paths of the characters and the way things were intertwined and that we learned more about the problems the characters faced. Damia and Silva were two of my favourite characters and I found Eivelle to be very intriguing. I now want to know more about the 'family' that Damia and Silva belong to. I sadly didn't care much about Julan and Gabriel, since I didn't feel like Gabriel was honest and straight-forward with everything. He seemed to be hiding things and I just couldn't get on board with that and the way that Julan was desperate to do something that would prove that he was worth more than he felt he was perceived as by his sister and father.
What I would've wanted more of are explanations - I wanted to know more about the creatures that populate the world. I have assumed that Damia might be a vampire but I don't know if that's what she is or if she might not belong to them. But I guess more in that way is going to come throughout the series.
Overall I absolutely enjoyed the journey I went on by reading this book! I now really want the sequel to be here already, but since Beast only comes out on July 1st, that's going to take a bit, I guess.
If you like stories that throw you right into it, then definitely give this a go and if you want to know more check out the author's website and instagram. I will definitely read the next book!
July 14, 2021
Absolutely loved reading Beast! Everything from the world building, to the characters, to the plot... did I mention the world building? I love a book that has a map in it, but not every book manages to use that in the actual writing. This one however? Amazing. The world is also so clearly written about in the way the characters speak about different places they come from and are heading towards. Absolutely love it.
The characters different cultures and customs are introduced to the reader as something obvious, rather than a new concept, which really takes you into it on a personal level.
I'm not usually one for "non-modern-world" fantasy but this is an exception. Can't wait to see how the rest of the story plays out!
The characters different cultures and customs are introduced to the reader as something obvious, rather than a new concept, which really takes you into it on a personal level.
I'm not usually one for "non-modern-world" fantasy but this is an exception. Can't wait to see how the rest of the story plays out!
June 12, 2021
Honestly did not know what I was expecting when picking up this book but definitely not this. The somewhat slower pacing compared to what I'm used to did not take away from the story or its characters at all.
I especially enjoyed that the author did not try to explain the world with mayor info-dumps as in most books with Supernatural or Fantasy like elements, but let's you put it together yourself and come to conclusions in your own time, which only adds to the story's mysteries.
I personally can't wait to read the next book in the series and hopefully get more answers, 'cause gosh dang it I have questions.
I especially enjoyed that the author did not try to explain the world with mayor info-dumps as in most books with Supernatural or Fantasy like elements, but let's you put it together yourself and come to conclusions in your own time, which only adds to the story's mysteries.
I personally can't wait to read the next book in the series and hopefully get more answers, 'cause gosh dang it I have questions.
July 4, 2021
Thank you to Ollie for a copy in exchange for an honest review.
I read Beast over the span of a while, but honestly I liked it that way! I read it in the middle of a move, so some of the plot points did escape from my mind, but overall, it was a great book!
One thing I really love is that all 3 POVs are so easy to tell apart. The way Ollie wrote them all, you never get them confused.
As for the characters themselves, Damia has to be my favourite. She’s kickass and amazing at sword fighting skills, aka my favourite type of character.
Overall, Beast is easily a 4 star read for me. Very enjoyable!!
I read Beast over the span of a while, but honestly I liked it that way! I read it in the middle of a move, so some of the plot points did escape from my mind, but overall, it was a great book!
One thing I really love is that all 3 POVs are so easy to tell apart. The way Ollie wrote them all, you never get them confused.
As for the characters themselves, Damia has to be my favourite. She’s kickass and amazing at sword fighting skills, aka my favourite type of character.
Overall, Beast is easily a 4 star read for me. Very enjoyable!!
June 23, 2021
I've been following Ollie on several platforms for quite some time now! I've been around for when they announced they were releasing their book and have been watching updates for so long! In a way ti support then they sent me an e-copy and omg it is so amazing! It's so well written and you can't seem to put it down! Ugh I wanna literally go on a rant on how amazing it is but alas I shall not. I can't wait till the physical copies are out! Definitely one of my new faves
June 12, 2021
Such an interesting story that keeps you guessing. I loved the atmosphere and the world of the story. I loved or liked most of the characters we follow, and even the ones I didn't really like still worked because of the writing. I can't wait to read the next books in the series.
June 17, 2021
AMAZING!! I haven't been able to properly focus and read an entire book for the past year, but this just got me hooked from beggining to end, I absolutely couldn't put it down for a minute. The experience of reading it is amazing, everyone should give it a chance
June 24, 2021
Haven’t felt compelled to finish a book since I read a HP as a kid. Beast is refreshing. It’s nice to have characters that aren’t in their middle school phase and the dynamics between characters feels much more natural then the typical Cis-hetero relationships pushed in most books.
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