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The Beast and the Enchantress
If there’s one thing Astrid, an aspiring enchantress with budding magical powers, has learned throughout her studies, it's that magic must only be used for good. But when an egocentric prince breaks her sister’s heart, Astrid’s only focus is revenge, and what better way to enact it than with a well-chosen curse?
A simple incantation is all it takes to transform the arrogant prince's appearance to match the state of his heart. But something goes wrong, causing the spell to affect not only the prince, but its caster as well. As the curse begins to change her appearance to reflect the state of her own vengeful heart, Astrid becomes desperate to break it at all costs, even if it means entering the castle in disguise and interacting with the prince she loathes.
To her surprise, Astrid encounters not a conceited prince, but one very different from the one she cursed. She soon finds her heart softening, but not in the way she expects—she’s losing it to the cursed prince she has vowed to hate. The closer they become, the more desperate Astrid is to free the prince, and herself, from the curse. But in so doing, she may lose the man she loves forever.
For how could a prince ever love the woman who turned him into a beast?
The Beast and the Enchantress is one of twelve short novels in A Villain's Ever After, a collection of stand-alone stories featuring villainous twists on some of your favorite classic fairy tales. Read the series in any order for magical adventures . . . and fall in love with villains as you've never seen them before. Who said villains can't have happily-ever-afters?
A simple incantation is all it takes to transform the arrogant prince's appearance to match the state of his heart. But something goes wrong, causing the spell to affect not only the prince, but its caster as well. As the curse begins to change her appearance to reflect the state of her own vengeful heart, Astrid becomes desperate to break it at all costs, even if it means entering the castle in disguise and interacting with the prince she loathes.
To her surprise, Astrid encounters not a conceited prince, but one very different from the one she cursed. She soon finds her heart softening, but not in the way she expects—she’s losing it to the cursed prince she has vowed to hate. The closer they become, the more desperate Astrid is to free the prince, and herself, from the curse. But in so doing, she may lose the man she loves forever.
For how could a prince ever love the woman who turned him into a beast?
The Beast and the Enchantress is one of twelve short novels in A Villain's Ever After, a collection of stand-alone stories featuring villainous twists on some of your favorite classic fairy tales. Read the series in any order for magical adventures . . . and fall in love with villains as you've never seen them before. Who said villains can't have happily-ever-afters?
181 pages, Paperback
First published August 13, 2021
206 people are currently reading
1977 people want to read
About the author
Camille Peters
35 books564 followersCamille Peters was born and raised in Salt Lake City, Utah where she grew up surrounded by books. As a child, she spent every spare moment reading and writing her own stories on every scrap of paper she could find. Becoming an author was always more than a childhood dream; it was a certainty.
Her love of writing grew alongside her as she took local writing classes in her teens, spent a year studying Creative Writing at the English University of Northampton, and graduated from the University of Utah with a degree in English and History. She’s now blessed to be a full-time author.
When she’s not writing she’s thinking about writing, and when’s she’s not thinking about writing she’s…alright, she’s always thinking about writing, but she can also be found reading, at the piano, playing board games with her family and friends, or taking long, bare-foot walks as she lives inside her imagination and brainstorms more tales.
Her love of writing grew alongside her as she took local writing classes in her teens, spent a year studying Creative Writing at the English University of Northampton, and graduated from the University of Utah with a degree in English and History. She’s now blessed to be a full-time author.
When she’s not writing she’s thinking about writing, and when’s she’s not thinking about writing she’s…alright, she’s always thinking about writing, but she can also be found reading, at the piano, playing board games with her family and friends, or taking long, bare-foot walks as she lives inside her imagination and brainstorms more tales.
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July 8, 2021I’m so excited to share another reimagining of Beauty and the Beast, one of my absolute favorite fairytales. This book is my first (and likely only) novella, meaning it’s half the length of my other books. Despite that, it gave me quite a bit of trouble, but I’m very passionate about the idea and am really happy with how it turned out.
I hope you enjoy this unique twist on this beloved fairytale, that through this story you can find healing from whatever may be ailing your own heart, and be able to move forward into the beautiful happily ever after you fully deserve.
I hope you enjoy this unique twist on this beloved fairytale, that through this story you can find healing from whatever may be ailing your own heart, and be able to move forward into the beautiful happily ever after you fully deserve.
August 12, 2021
Oh my heart!!! I absolutely loved this book! I just want to go back and read it over again right now.
Enchantress Astrid and Prince Gladen's characters were so well written and developed. I loved every moment of getting to know them. Their joys and sorrows. Their hurts, angers, frustrations and their contrition and loyalty and dedication to others. Such a fantastic story!
I could not be any more pleased with how the whole story was written. Such a clever and fresh take on Beauty and the Beast. Which happens to be one of my absolute favorite fairy tales. I'm giggling and smiling over it all. There were moments where I felt the sorrow right along with the characters as they are going through everything. Sorry for being vague but you know...I don't want to spoil anything for you because it's a beautiful journey.
There is so much more I want to talk about. I keep thinking about so many different scenes between Astrid and Gladen that were wonderful. The library, the forest, the garden. *Happy Sigh* These two are just perfection. It was very refreshing with how Camille Peters handled the story and the wrongs and misunderstandings between these two. Seriously, read it!!!
The sweet romance was just delightful. It was so fun watching a new, young and budding love start. Of course it doesn't instantly just become love, but has to develop and start with nothing then friendship and so on. I loved how it was all developed. And the ending! So many hearts for it. Trust me when I say that you're going to want to carve out time in your schedule to read it all in one sitting!
Content: Clean. Some elements of magic (I really liked this aspect of the book). A couple kisses but nothing further.
I received a copy from the author. All thoughts and opinions in the review are my own.
Happy Reading!!!
Enchantress Astrid and Prince Gladen's characters were so well written and developed. I loved every moment of getting to know them. Their joys and sorrows. Their hurts, angers, frustrations and their contrition and loyalty and dedication to others. Such a fantastic story!
I could not be any more pleased with how the whole story was written. Such a clever and fresh take on Beauty and the Beast. Which happens to be one of my absolute favorite fairy tales. I'm giggling and smiling over it all. There were moments where I felt the sorrow right along with the characters as they are going through everything. Sorry for being vague but you know...I don't want to spoil anything for you because it's a beautiful journey.
There is so much more I want to talk about. I keep thinking about so many different scenes between Astrid and Gladen that were wonderful. The library, the forest, the garden. *Happy Sigh* These two are just perfection. It was very refreshing with how Camille Peters handled the story and the wrongs and misunderstandings between these two. Seriously, read it!!!
The sweet romance was just delightful. It was so fun watching a new, young and budding love start. Of course it doesn't instantly just become love, but has to develop and start with nothing then friendship and so on. I loved how it was all developed. And the ending! So many hearts for it. Trust me when I say that you're going to want to carve out time in your schedule to read it all in one sitting!
Content: Clean. Some elements of magic (I really liked this aspect of the book). A couple kisses but nothing further.
I received a copy from the author. All thoughts and opinions in the review are my own.
Happy Reading!!!
August 18, 2021
This first book in the A Villain's Ever After series is a sweet, adorable retelling of Beauty and the Beast where the Beast ends up falling in love with the enchantress who cursed him. This is a retelling more focused on the characters than high action, but the sweet relationship development, the tension of secrets, and the theme of forgiveness kept me turning pages from start to finish! This one is completely squeaky clean, so no worries there. It is a perfect book to read yourself, then hand over to a daughter or niece to read and enjoy as well!
October 29, 2021
Meh. It explored an interesting idea, though: If a sorceress curses a prince because he has darkness in his heart... doesn't she also have darkness in her heart?
August 18, 2021
I received an ARC via StoryOrigin in exchange for a honest review.
Retellings of "Beauty and the Beast" in which the enchantress is the hero/redeemed/not that bad/misunderstood aren't my favourite plot twist for this tale, mainly because in the original by Madame de Villeneuve the enchantress is entirely and irredeemably at fault (I mean, she's a groomer and a sexual abuser forcing herself on the prince...) and goes far overboard with the curse, but also because attempts to redeem The Villain from a fairy tale tend to spectacularly miss either the point of the story or the metaphors involved, and nowhere is it more disastrous than in a fairy tale where redemption is the whole point.
But in The Beast and the Enchantress, it works! And why does it work? Well, let me show you.
The above quote illustrates why, in this story, the enchantress can be the protagonist of a redemption arc without making her either saintly or misunderstood. Essentially, it's because just as it happens in the fairy tale, the enchantress in this retelling is at fault, goes overboard with the curse, and punishes an innocent for her own failings and pettiness. She is entirely to blame, in spite of the mental circus contortions she performs to justify herself.
Now, that'll give you the impression that she's unlikable, won't it? Yes, for a good chunk of the book, she is. So unlikable that at one point I was dreading that I'd end up hating the book as I hated other retellings with this same premise, because... well, how exactly was this prideful piece of two-legged prejudice clad in silk gonna be redeemed, hmm? I simply couldn't see how.
It just goes to show it's been quite a long while since I've read Austen, because if Mr Darcy proved anything, it's that prideful pieces of two-legged prejudice can be redeemed, and I should've known that. Astrid is a harder nut to crack than expected, and fights tooth and nail to never admit she was wrong, that she had no real reason to curse the prince, but she earns the forgiveness that comes at the end. You see her evolve in real time, are privy to her thoughts, and witness the changes as they happen. And it's done realistically, too. I can't say she becomes likable by the end, but boy, does she mature. And that is precisely the point. Going from ogre to sweet isn't realistic and doesn't fit the tale's lesson.
That's why Camille Peters' take works, in my opinion. I liked that she found a way to work on the villain that was convincing, I liked that she didn't dumb down the prince to elevate the villain, and above all I liked her twist that what breaks the curse isn't love as is the mainstream take but another thing just as powerful and noble. The characterisation was done skilfully and believably, and that's what makes the redeemed villain possible in a way that doesn't come across as a cop out.
My only criticism would be that the character of Rosemarie reads rather underdeveloped and acts in reaction to plot needs rather a tad much; though I imagine she may be fleshed out in upcoming volumes if she has her own story. Also, that I wish the prince had his own POV (a bookworm prince isn't something you find often, usually it's the woman) because it felt like he didn't have that much onpage time for the potential he hinted at, though again I'm aware that he didn't because this is supposed to be a villain's standpoint series. Besides that, it's a lovely retelling that I've enjoyed a lot, start on the wrong foot and all!
Retellings of "Beauty and the Beast" in which the enchantress is the hero/redeemed/not that bad/misunderstood aren't my favourite plot twist for this tale, mainly because in the original by Madame de Villeneuve the enchantress is entirely and irredeemably at fault (I mean, she's a groomer and a sexual abuser forcing herself on the prince...) and goes far overboard with the curse, but also because attempts to redeem The Villain from a fairy tale tend to spectacularly miss either the point of the story or the metaphors involved, and nowhere is it more disastrous than in a fairy tale where redemption is the whole point.
But in The Beast and the Enchantress, it works! And why does it work? Well, let me show you.
“Love is the most powerful emotion in the world, but while love can be beautiful, it can also cause one to act in ways one normally wouldn’t. You mustn’t allow it to sway you to do anything that is less than honorable.”
“What do you mean?” I stuttered.
“You love your sister dearly, and thus her pain becomes your own, but no good comes from harboring a grudge. Lack of forgiveness creates a poison, but unlike most poisons, this one isn’t administered to the one who caused it, but to the creator themselves; its only antidote is forgiveness. Don’t allow it to taint your heart.”
The above quote illustrates why, in this story, the enchantress can be the protagonist of a redemption arc without making her either saintly or misunderstood. Essentially, it's because just as it happens in the fairy tale, the enchantress in this retelling is at fault, goes overboard with the curse, and punishes an innocent for her own failings and pettiness. She is entirely to blame, in spite of the mental circus contortions she performs to justify herself.
Now, that'll give you the impression that she's unlikable, won't it? Yes, for a good chunk of the book, she is. So unlikable that at one point I was dreading that I'd end up hating the book as I hated other retellings with this same premise, because... well, how exactly was this prideful piece of two-legged prejudice clad in silk gonna be redeemed, hmm? I simply couldn't see how.
It just goes to show it's been quite a long while since I've read Austen, because if Mr Darcy proved anything, it's that prideful pieces of two-legged prejudice can be redeemed, and I should've known that. Astrid is a harder nut to crack than expected, and fights tooth and nail to never admit she was wrong, that she had no real reason to curse the prince, but she earns the forgiveness that comes at the end. You see her evolve in real time, are privy to her thoughts, and witness the changes as they happen. And it's done realistically, too. I can't say she becomes likable by the end, but boy, does she mature. And that is precisely the point. Going from ogre to sweet isn't realistic and doesn't fit the tale's lesson.
That's why Camille Peters' take works, in my opinion. I liked that she found a way to work on the villain that was convincing, I liked that she didn't dumb down the prince to elevate the villain, and above all I liked her twist that what breaks the curse isn't love as is the mainstream take but another thing just as powerful and noble. The characterisation was done skilfully and believably, and that's what makes the redeemed villain possible in a way that doesn't come across as a cop out.
My only criticism would be that the character of Rosemarie reads rather underdeveloped and acts in reaction to plot needs rather a tad much; though I imagine she may be fleshed out in upcoming volumes if she has her own story. Also, that I wish the prince had his own POV (a bookworm prince isn't something you find often, usually it's the woman) because it felt like he didn't have that much onpage time for the potential he hinted at, though again I'm aware that he didn't because this is supposed to be a villain's standpoint series. Besides that, it's a lovely retelling that I've enjoyed a lot, start on the wrong foot and all!
August 30, 2021
This is a clean reverse retelling of Beauty and the Beast. I really like the concept of this story and I love how Camille Peters always adds little pets to her stories like the creative adorable little greenery hedgehog in Enchantment and, in this book, the floating faithful spell book that was Astrid’s constant companion.
I like that Astrid doesn’t start out as a perfect human being and we’re shown that she has flaws of her own, leaving plenty of room for character growth as she reflects on her actions as the story progresses.
This book wasn’t my favorite of Camille Peters and I was hoping for more because Astrid’s motive seemed hollow to me. To me, Astrid’s reasoning to curse him was shallow (because all she saw and cared about was her sister and that’s one sided because her sister isn’t the only person in the situation. She should consider all the perspectives and everyone’s feelings.), impulsive, irresponsible (because she’ll no doubt get caught and Astrid would no doubt be kicked out of her apprenticeship and therefore have no way to provide for herself or her sister Rosemarie) and short sighted (because again, she’d lose her whole future, source of income/food, and because Astrid and her sister even live with Astrid’s enchantress teacher. It’s highly likely that they’ll be kicked out once Astrid commits treason. If Astrid isn’t jailed for life or executed for cursing a royal out of the blue, then who’ll be around to coddle and shelter Rosemarie’s delicate sensibilities? Or how would her sister even get food? No one would dare help Rosemarie even if they wanted to because of the association with a treasonous enchantress.) I understand the need to allow room for character growth, but this was all a bit too much all at once, especially since I thought it was all illogical while reading. I just wish Astrid thought through her actions/plans more and had a solid reasoning for cursing the prince.
All in all, I wasn’t a fan of Astrid, especially since the prince didn’t even do anything horrendous and his mistake certainly didn’t require a curse. Sure he could’ve been taken down a peg or two and taught a lesson in being more polite or more patient, but he didn’t do anything to deserve a curse. Astrid majorly overreacted in my eyes and that took away my pleasure in the story which is why this book gets a three star for my rating.
Sorry if you loved the book, this was just my thoughts while reading. (The last few paragraphs of this review only covers the first chapter of the book or so because I didn’t want to spoil the book and I tried to be as vague as possible.)
(I was given an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.)
I like that Astrid doesn’t start out as a perfect human being and we’re shown that she has flaws of her own, leaving plenty of room for character growth as she reflects on her actions as the story progresses.
This book wasn’t my favorite of Camille Peters and I was hoping for more because Astrid’s motive seemed hollow to me. To me, Astrid’s reasoning to curse him was shallow (because all she saw and cared about was her sister and that’s one sided because her sister isn’t the only person in the situation. She should consider all the perspectives and everyone’s feelings.), impulsive, irresponsible (because she’ll no doubt get caught and Astrid would no doubt be kicked out of her apprenticeship and therefore have no way to provide for herself or her sister Rosemarie) and short sighted (because again, she’d lose her whole future, source of income/food, and because Astrid and her sister even live with Astrid’s enchantress teacher. It’s highly likely that they’ll be kicked out once Astrid commits treason. If Astrid isn’t jailed for life or executed for cursing a royal out of the blue, then who’ll be around to coddle and shelter Rosemarie’s delicate sensibilities? Or how would her sister even get food? No one would dare help Rosemarie even if they wanted to because of the association with a treasonous enchantress.) I understand the need to allow room for character growth, but this was all a bit too much all at once, especially since I thought it was all illogical while reading. I just wish Astrid thought through her actions/plans more and had a solid reasoning for cursing the prince.
All in all, I wasn’t a fan of Astrid, especially since the prince didn’t even do anything horrendous and his mistake certainly didn’t require a curse. Sure he could’ve been taken down a peg or two and taught a lesson in being more polite or more patient, but he didn’t do anything to deserve a curse. Astrid majorly overreacted in my eyes and that took away my pleasure in the story which is why this book gets a three star for my rating.
Sorry if you loved the book, this was just my thoughts while reading. (The last few paragraphs of this review only covers the first chapter of the book or so because I didn’t want to spoil the book and I tried to be as vague as possible.)
(I was given an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.)
August 6, 2021
I loved this beauty and the beast twist!
What if in the classic Beauty and the Beast retelling, the person who cursed the prince fell in love with him? What if the one who cursed him was cursed with him? The plot twist in this story really intrigued me.
I quickly loved both of the main characters but especially Gladen. I love misunderstood characters so… I kinda fell for him! He was so sweet. I just wanted to hug him and convince him how amazing he was. I also love how much he loved books and reading! It made him even more special.
I also loved Astrid, and really sympathized with her. As an older sister myself, I could relate to her feelings of wanting to help her sister, and protect her from getting hurt.
I really liked watching Astrid grow throughout the story.
The romance was so, so sweet! I loved it! I especially loved how they read to each other and talked about books. Awww! *heart eyes*
I also loved the themes/ messages throughout the book. There were strong themes of forgiveness in this story. Another message I took away from this story was this— don’t judge someone before you actually know them.
Overall, this was a beautiful, quick read that kept me up late reading. I enjoyed it so much! (Also, the cover is absolutely gorgeous!)😍
*I received an ARC from the author in exchange for a review. All opinions are my own.
What if in the classic Beauty and the Beast retelling, the person who cursed the prince fell in love with him? What if the one who cursed him was cursed with him? The plot twist in this story really intrigued me.
I quickly loved both of the main characters but especially Gladen. I love misunderstood characters so… I kinda fell for him! He was so sweet. I just wanted to hug him and convince him how amazing he was. I also love how much he loved books and reading! It made him even more special.
I also loved Astrid, and really sympathized with her. As an older sister myself, I could relate to her feelings of wanting to help her sister, and protect her from getting hurt.
I really liked watching Astrid grow throughout the story.
The romance was so, so sweet! I loved it! I especially loved how they read to each other and talked about books. Awww! *heart eyes*
I also loved the themes/ messages throughout the book. There were strong themes of forgiveness in this story. Another message I took away from this story was this— don’t judge someone before you actually know them.
Overall, this was a beautiful, quick read that kept me up late reading. I enjoyed it so much! (Also, the cover is absolutely gorgeous!)😍
*I received an ARC from the author in exchange for a review. All opinions are my own.
August 18, 2021
You all know that romance is not and has never been my favorite thing about fairytales, so retellings like Camille Peters's, while clean and sweet, aren't exactly to my taste. Add to that the undisputed fact that Beauty and the Beast has got to be one of the most retold fairytales of all time, and you have a very doubtful Me.
But this reimagining pleasantly surprised me. First of all because Camille Peters always comes up with the best twists on every fairytale you can think of, and second because both Astrid and Gladen were likable, interesting characters whose interactions intrigued me from the start. I was worried about how Gladen might turn out--because I'm always worried about the love interest in books, you know--but he turned out to be just a somewhat messed-up cinnamon roll, and darned if I don't love the messed-up cinnamon roll characters.
The writing in this book was a bit too fluffy and emotional than I like, and I felt like during the latter half of the book, nothing really... happened. There was just a lot of repetitive internal dialogue and somewhat unrealistic dialogue. The themes were a bit too on-the-nose as well. Part of that could be attributed to the length of the book; I've read very few novellas that I really love. But yeah, my interest flagged considerably during the second half of the story.
All in all... I'm not discouraged about the series as a whole, and I am intrigued by the author's note at the end about the future of Rosileya as a kingdom, but I just don't think this one was for me.
*I received an ARC of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. A positive review was not required; all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.*
But this reimagining pleasantly surprised me. First of all because Camille Peters always comes up with the best twists on every fairytale you can think of, and second because both Astrid and Gladen were likable, interesting characters whose interactions intrigued me from the start. I was worried about how Gladen might turn out--because I'm always worried about the love interest in books, you know--but he turned out to be just a somewhat messed-up cinnamon roll, and darned if I don't love the messed-up cinnamon roll characters.
The writing in this book was a bit too fluffy and emotional than I like, and I felt like during the latter half of the book, nothing really... happened. There was just a lot of repetitive internal dialogue and somewhat unrealistic dialogue. The themes were a bit too on-the-nose as well. Part of that could be attributed to the length of the book; I've read very few novellas that I really love. But yeah, my interest flagged considerably during the second half of the story.
All in all... I'm not discouraged about the series as a whole, and I am intrigued by the author's note at the end about the future of Rosileya as a kingdom, but I just don't think this one was for me.
*I received an ARC of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. A positive review was not required; all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.*
April 19, 2022
The Beast and the Enchantress is the first installment of the A Villain's Ever After series. In it, you will meet Astrid and Gladen. She is the enchantress in this story who is currently learning in her apprenticeship. He's the prince who eventually gets cursed.
Their love story was a nice Beauty and the Beast retelling. In a way, you could view them as enemies who soon become lovers, but I wouldn't necessarily categorize them as that. Mostly because I didn't see them as enemies in the beginning. I mean, yeah, she did curse the guy, but he did hurt her sister. Did he really deserve this curse? Eh, no, not really. It did seem like she overreacted to it but in the end, she was also hit by the curse.
So, yes, karma worked wonders and it brought them closer to one another. To truly see the other inside and out. Their little friendship in the beginning made me smile. Then I devoured the little tension filled moments in between. I figured that certain secrets would come out way before they actually did. The drama that followed after was sort of minimal which surprised me.
In the end, they were cute. They had a clean romance that I could easily enjoy but secretly hoped things would get dirtier. I'm excited to jump into the next fairy tale.
Their love story was a nice Beauty and the Beast retelling. In a way, you could view them as enemies who soon become lovers, but I wouldn't necessarily categorize them as that. Mostly because I didn't see them as enemies in the beginning. I mean, yeah, she did curse the guy, but he did hurt her sister. Did he really deserve this curse? Eh, no, not really. It did seem like she overreacted to it but in the end, she was also hit by the curse.
So, yes, karma worked wonders and it brought them closer to one another. To truly see the other inside and out. Their little friendship in the beginning made me smile. Then I devoured the little tension filled moments in between. I figured that certain secrets would come out way before they actually did. The drama that followed after was sort of minimal which surprised me.
In the end, they were cute. They had a clean romance that I could easily enjoy but secretly hoped things would get dirtier. I'm excited to jump into the next fairy tale.
August 15, 2021
Enchanting
I loved this twist on Beauty and the Beast. The impulsive revenge of an enchantress for her sister’s hurt feelings result in not one curse, but two. The enchantress and the prince are both cursed to have their outward appearances reflect the darkness in their hearts.
I loved seeing Enchantress Astrid look deeply into her own actions. She and Prince Gladon both experienced some necessary growth.
I can’t wait to see what the next authors do with this series!
Content: clean (a few kisses, no language, no violence)
I loved this twist on Beauty and the Beast. The impulsive revenge of an enchantress for her sister’s hurt feelings result in not one curse, but two. The enchantress and the prince are both cursed to have their outward appearances reflect the darkness in their hearts.
I loved seeing Enchantress Astrid look deeply into her own actions. She and Prince Gladon both experienced some necessary growth.
I can’t wait to see what the next authors do with this series!
Content: clean (a few kisses, no language, no violence)
April 23, 2022
This is the first book in the A Villain's Ever After series and it's based on Beauty and the Beast - I love Beauty and the Beast!
We meet enchantress Astrid, her sister Rosemarie, her mentor Ivy, and Prince Gladen (I think those might be the only named characters!) Rosemarie was friends with Gladen when they were younger and is heartbroken when he seems to snub her. Astrid is livid on her sister's behalf and wants revenge...
I thought it was going to explain how the beast got turned into a beast in the first place, like a precursor to Beauty and the Beast? It's more like an alternative universe. Which is oh so fluffy, and just too sickly sweet for me - sorry! I guess Astrid was a complex enough character but it was all over cutesy and predictable and really not for me.
I was planning on steaming through the series but if they're all happy and fluffy like this, I don't think I'll bother - I'll check out some reviews of the others. I expected, and yearned for, something a lot darker. (Maybe I should read the blurb more closely in future...)
Not for me - but it's a fine retelling; I'm just disappointed, so don't let me put you off trying it!
We meet enchantress Astrid, her sister Rosemarie, her mentor Ivy, and Prince Gladen (I think those might be the only named characters!) Rosemarie was friends with Gladen when they were younger and is heartbroken when he seems to snub her. Astrid is livid on her sister's behalf and wants revenge...
I thought it was going to explain how the beast got turned into a beast in the first place, like a precursor to Beauty and the Beast? It's more like an alternative universe. Which is oh so fluffy, and just too sickly sweet for me - sorry! I guess Astrid was a complex enough character but it was all over cutesy and predictable and really not for me.
I was planning on steaming through the series but if they're all happy and fluffy like this, I don't think I'll bother - I'll check out some reviews of the others. I expected, and yearned for, something a lot darker. (Maybe I should read the blurb more closely in future...)
Not for me - but it's a fine retelling; I'm just disappointed, so don't let me put you off trying it!
November 30, 2021
I thought this was a cute novella. I really like the idea for the whole series--and y'all know I'm a sucker for a fairytale retelling.
Beauty and the Beast is classic, one of the most popular stories to retell, so sometimes it can become a little cliche or overdone. But the twist in this one was actually really neat. I liked the idea behind the plot a lot. And the romance was actually kind of sweet. There were a few nods to the classic elements like the library and the rose that still had a fresh new take and felt like a natural part of the story.
I liked Astrid's sister. She was sweet. And I really liked Ivy. I was definitely curious about her. Astrid was okay. I didn't like or dislike her honestly. I liked her role in the story, but not much about who she was really stuck out to me. I liked that she was protective over her little sister and I loved how that created the reason for her cursing the prince. But I struggled to understand and connect to her a lot (which I'll expand on below). The prince was okay too. I liked his backstory, and as it's a novella, there wasn't much room to expand on that, though I was curious about it and wish there had been. He also felt a little...off to me. I loved that he struggled with bitterness and the palace expectations. It was cool to see what made him so impatient with the women of the court and his parents. I liked how he had to learn to stand on his own and, of course, he was endearing because he loved books and learning and gardening, etc. His interests made him unique and I liked that a lot. But it also kind of felt like he was a "beast" just because the story needed him to be. His outbursts didn't feel super natural to me and I'd wished they felt a little smoother, a more cohesive part of his character. He just seemed a little hot and cold, which I didn't love.
I think my biggest issue with the novella was that, cool as the twist was, I didn't love how it was set up. The whole idea is that Astrid's sister is spurned by the prince and Astrid then gets back at the prince to teach him a lesson. But...her sister's "spurning" wasn't really a big deal, and though we spent a portion of the story teetering between whether or not Astrid would actually curse him for it, it still felt a little cardboard. And like a bit of an overreaction on Astrid's part. I just struggled to really buy into it. I think it was mostly because I had a really hard time feeling what Astrid felt. I saw what the page said she felt, but I didn't connect with her and feel it too. I didn't get angry on my sister's behalf and I didn't see the need for the prince to learn a lesson. So, I just didn't emotionally connect when she got upset, which made it harder to care. Her choices just didn't feel realistic to me.
Additionally, and on a more technical level, there were a few phrases and small parts that were redundant. We got the same information twice in some places. And some phrases were used four or five times, possibly to emphasize a thematic point, but we really didn't need it in every single place. I got the point and/or would have liked a little variety. I'd have liked to be shown the growth and lessons learned rather than just told through dialogue. But that may just be a stylistic/editing preference.
I think the book is set in a world I'm not familiar with because I haven't read any of the author's other books. We stayed on the palace grounds, and had a few different mini-settings. The story is a novella, so I didn't expect a lot of in depth worldbuilding, but there was enough hinted at to make me curious about other books by the author. Also, the woods and the library were fun.
Content: the book is a sweet, clean romance. No foul language or violence. The enchantress does curse the prince, so some mild fantasy magic, but there was nothing truly dark about it. The story explores ideas of bitterness, forgiveness, anger, vengeance, etc. which would make for good conversation starters. I'd be comfortable giving the novella to a preteen.
This is the second book in the series I've read, so I'm looking forward to the rest. And I'm curious to check out more of Camille Peters's work in the future.
Beauty and the Beast is classic, one of the most popular stories to retell, so sometimes it can become a little cliche or overdone. But the twist in this one was actually really neat. I liked the idea behind the plot a lot. And the romance was actually kind of sweet. There were a few nods to the classic elements like the library and the rose that still had a fresh new take and felt like a natural part of the story.
I liked Astrid's sister. She was sweet. And I really liked Ivy. I was definitely curious about her. Astrid was okay. I didn't like or dislike her honestly. I liked her role in the story, but not much about who she was really stuck out to me. I liked that she was protective over her little sister and I loved how that created the reason for her cursing the prince. But I struggled to understand and connect to her a lot (which I'll expand on below). The prince was okay too. I liked his backstory, and as it's a novella, there wasn't much room to expand on that, though I was curious about it and wish there had been. He also felt a little...off to me. I loved that he struggled with bitterness and the palace expectations. It was cool to see what made him so impatient with the women of the court and his parents. I liked how he had to learn to stand on his own and, of course, he was endearing because he loved books and learning and gardening, etc. His interests made him unique and I liked that a lot. But it also kind of felt like he was a "beast" just because the story needed him to be. His outbursts didn't feel super natural to me and I'd wished they felt a little smoother, a more cohesive part of his character. He just seemed a little hot and cold, which I didn't love.
I think my biggest issue with the novella was that, cool as the twist was, I didn't love how it was set up. The whole idea is that Astrid's sister is spurned by the prince and Astrid then gets back at the prince to teach him a lesson. But...her sister's "spurning" wasn't really a big deal, and though we spent a portion of the story teetering between whether or not Astrid would actually curse him for it, it still felt a little cardboard. And like a bit of an overreaction on Astrid's part. I just struggled to really buy into it. I think it was mostly because I had a really hard time feeling what Astrid felt. I saw what the page said she felt, but I didn't connect with her and feel it too. I didn't get angry on my sister's behalf and I didn't see the need for the prince to learn a lesson. So, I just didn't emotionally connect when she got upset, which made it harder to care. Her choices just didn't feel realistic to me.
Additionally, and on a more technical level, there were a few phrases and small parts that were redundant. We got the same information twice in some places. And some phrases were used four or five times, possibly to emphasize a thematic point, but we really didn't need it in every single place. I got the point and/or would have liked a little variety. I'd have liked to be shown the growth and lessons learned rather than just told through dialogue. But that may just be a stylistic/editing preference.
I think the book is set in a world I'm not familiar with because I haven't read any of the author's other books. We stayed on the palace grounds, and had a few different mini-settings. The story is a novella, so I didn't expect a lot of in depth worldbuilding, but there was enough hinted at to make me curious about other books by the author. Also, the woods and the library were fun.
Content: the book is a sweet, clean romance. No foul language or violence. The enchantress does curse the prince, so some mild fantasy magic, but there was nothing truly dark about it. The story explores ideas of bitterness, forgiveness, anger, vengeance, etc. which would make for good conversation starters. I'd be comfortable giving the novella to a preteen.
This is the second book in the series I've read, so I'm looking forward to the rest. And I'm curious to check out more of Camille Peters's work in the future.
October 4, 2021
This 100-page fairytale retelling felt like a 300-page book, I disliked every part of it. This is suited for a very young audience (8-13) and while anyone can read it I feel like it just gets tedious the older you are.
I started reading because of the romance and was sorely disappointed by how lackluster and shallow it was. Aside from that, the characters were painfully boring which made this even more uninteresting. To top it all off, the author treats the reader as a 6-year-old in need of having everything spelled out for them and does not trust us as the readers to understand the message of her story without her literally analyzing for us everything that happens in the book.
I will not continue with the series
I started reading because of the romance and was sorely disappointed by how lackluster and shallow it was. Aside from that, the characters were painfully boring which made this even more uninteresting. To top it all off, the author treats the reader as a 6-year-old in need of having everything spelled out for them and does not trust us as the readers to understand the message of her story without her literally analyzing for us everything that happens in the book.
I will not continue with the series
February 10, 2022
This was so sweet! And yet another Beauty and the Beast retelling I like?!?!? (Who am I?) Like, um, weird? 🤨 Either I’m finally starting to like them, or I’m just stumbling across ones that are really good… No matter, because this one was great!
As opposed to other books in this series, this one is strictly a romance with no other subplots, so keep that in mind if you don’t like straight romance. With that said I loved how the curse and “beast” elements were handled along with the curse effecting both Astrid AND Gladen as opposed to just Gladen—a very interesting and cool twist!
I loved Astrid and Gladen and their separate and intwined heart journeys—both are wonderful characters I couldn’t help but love even if they were both a bit prickly at first, haha. I also I loved Astrid’s spell book! I LOVE characterized inanimate objects (Magic Carpet from Aladdin and the droids in Star Wars are my faves) which I haven’t seen done much in books, but the spell book did not disappoint! It was so funny and loyal to Astrid and such a gem to the book—especially its role in the epilogue. ☺️
A super sweet, heart searching read with a lot of wisdom and truth laid in the pages. I can’t wait to read more of this author’s work!
Content: magic; magical abilities and objects; kissing (not detailed)
As opposed to other books in this series, this one is strictly a romance with no other subplots, so keep that in mind if you don’t like straight romance. With that said I loved how the curse and “beast” elements were handled along with the curse effecting both Astrid AND Gladen as opposed to just Gladen—a very interesting and cool twist!
I loved Astrid and Gladen and their separate and intwined heart journeys—both are wonderful characters I couldn’t help but love even if they were both a bit prickly at first, haha. I also I loved Astrid’s spell book! I LOVE characterized inanimate objects (Magic Carpet from Aladdin and the droids in Star Wars are my faves) which I haven’t seen done much in books, but the spell book did not disappoint! It was so funny and loyal to Astrid and such a gem to the book—especially its role in the epilogue. ☺️
A super sweet, heart searching read with a lot of wisdom and truth laid in the pages. I can’t wait to read more of this author’s work!
Content: magic; magical abilities and objects; kissing (not detailed)
August 5, 2021
I love fairytale retellings and this had such a cool twist. The Beast and the Enchantress is the first novella in a new series of novellas called A Villain's Ever After! This is such an awesome idea! The Beast and the Enchantress is written by Camille Peters, who is one of my favorite authors, and I loved it!
Astrid loved her sister to death and when the Prince hurt her sister’s feelings, Astrid makes him pay by cursing him. Unfortunately, magic has a price and Astrid finds herself cursed along with the prince. In order to break the curse, Astrid finds herself spending time with the prince. As she spends time with the prince, she learns that he is not what she expected. But the closer Astrid comes to breaking the curse, the more she fears losing the man she loves.
Astrid was a lot like me so I really related to her. She was so passionate about everything. However, she allowed her emotions, her anger, to get the better of her and it led her to do something she would deeply regret. I liked reading about her as she grew and learned from her mistakes. She had a lot to overcome in a short amount of time, but I really liked the way Peters wrote Astrid. Although it was hard, Astrid had to make amends and see that she was not always right
Prince Gladen was such a complex character. There was more to him than I expected and I enjoyed reading about him. He was kind underneath his exterior barriers. He had to learn to work past his bitterness towards his family and learn to give others the benefit of the doubt. He was unlike any other “beast” that I had read about. I was cheering for Gladen and I so wanted him to break his curse and find peace.
Gladen and Astrid were so sweet together. It was cute to read about them falling in love. They had to learn how to work through their curse. The Beast and the Enchantress was such a fun novella. There were so many nuggets of gold hidden in the book, as Gladen and Astrid worked through the darkness in their lives. I was intrigued by the story and I ended up starting up late to finish it.
I would definitely recommend The Beast and the Enchantress, it is definitely worth the read! I am so excited to read the rest of the books in the series. And I can’t wait to see what else Peters writes
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion, I was not required to write a positive review.
Astrid loved her sister to death and when the Prince hurt her sister’s feelings, Astrid makes him pay by cursing him. Unfortunately, magic has a price and Astrid finds herself cursed along with the prince. In order to break the curse, Astrid finds herself spending time with the prince. As she spends time with the prince, she learns that he is not what she expected. But the closer Astrid comes to breaking the curse, the more she fears losing the man she loves.
Astrid was a lot like me so I really related to her. She was so passionate about everything. However, she allowed her emotions, her anger, to get the better of her and it led her to do something she would deeply regret. I liked reading about her as she grew and learned from her mistakes. She had a lot to overcome in a short amount of time, but I really liked the way Peters wrote Astrid. Although it was hard, Astrid had to make amends and see that she was not always right
Prince Gladen was such a complex character. There was more to him than I expected and I enjoyed reading about him. He was kind underneath his exterior barriers. He had to learn to work past his bitterness towards his family and learn to give others the benefit of the doubt. He was unlike any other “beast” that I had read about. I was cheering for Gladen and I so wanted him to break his curse and find peace.
Gladen and Astrid were so sweet together. It was cute to read about them falling in love. They had to learn how to work through their curse. The Beast and the Enchantress was such a fun novella. There were so many nuggets of gold hidden in the book, as Gladen and Astrid worked through the darkness in their lives. I was intrigued by the story and I ended up starting up late to finish it.
I would definitely recommend The Beast and the Enchantress, it is definitely worth the read! I am so excited to read the rest of the books in the series. And I can’t wait to see what else Peters writes
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion, I was not required to write a positive review.
December 23, 2022
As I said to my intrepid buddy reader Julia, this is the most 3 star book to ever 3 star.
Like, it was Very Okay the entire way through. I liked some of the magic and some of the ways the story mirrored the original BatB (and the way Astrid is in some ways the Beast too!), and Rosemarie ended up being a pretty cool character, but mostly I found this super mediocre. Astrid could be incredibly frustrating (how many times do we need to watch her realize and un-realize the same 3 things?!), and considering this book is so short it also felt pretty slow and unengaging. Why so much set-up when it's a short novella?
The writing of the romance also felt pretty cheesy in a lot of places.
There were parts of the curse that were interesting, but the characters' motivations around it often didn't make much sense, plus I don't think it has the same intensity as the original story. Also, a lot of the descriptions around the MCs' "disfigurement" felt like overreacting at beast and ableism at worst.
So, definitely not one of my favorites in this series so far.
CW: Ableism
Like, it was Very Okay the entire way through. I liked some of the magic and some of the ways the story mirrored the original BatB (and the way Astrid is in some ways the Beast too!), and Rosemarie ended up being a pretty cool character, but mostly I found this super mediocre. Astrid could be incredibly frustrating (how many times do we need to watch her realize and un-realize the same 3 things?!), and considering this book is so short it also felt pretty slow and unengaging. Why so much set-up when it's a short novella?
The writing of the romance also felt pretty cheesy in a lot of places.
There were parts of the curse that were interesting, but the characters' motivations around it often didn't make much sense, plus I don't think it has the same intensity as the original story. Also, a lot of the descriptions around the MCs' "disfigurement" felt like overreacting at beast and ableism at worst.
So, definitely not one of my favorites in this series so far.
CW: Ableism
August 15, 2021
This is such a beautiful and heartfelt story, and is the most surprising and enjoyable "villain" rendition of beauty and the beast a reader could hope for! Astrid is a delightfully complex character; she has flaws, strengths, faults, and admirable characteristics alike: she is different from any princess or heroine, but she is also very much apart from any catalogued villain. Instead, she encapsulates the intriguing traits the archetypal fairytale enchantress does: bravery, endurance, patience, an ability to listen and to help others reach into their own thoughts to seek out truth. Yet, she also is impulsive and hot-headed, which is very fitting for a young apprentice learning to master her craft. It was enjoyable watching her learn and grow, and I delighted in reading her come to the correct answers and fought-for successes. Her struggle is inspiring, and this novella is a beautiful lesson in accepting ourselves for who we truly are. After all, as Enchantress Ivy from the tale would advise, it is in doing just that we can learn to forgive ourselves for our mistakes. I applaud Ms. Peters for a lovely story and a magically inspiring heroine! What a gorgeous tale!
April 12, 2023
definitely a different sort of beauty and the beast, with beauty and beast on both sides. i love me an mc whose so very clearly flawed.
though I love beauty and the beast in general, what I particularly loved about this book was the emphasis placed on atonement and forgiveness and humility and worth in spite of mistakes. This sort of story is a really good one to examine such themes in and though the repetition got to me a little, it does make sense in that a person apologizing often won’t immediately forgive themselves, even is someone else does.
at any rate, hopefully i’ll get to read more from this collection and more from this author in the future.
though I love beauty and the beast in general, what I particularly loved about this book was the emphasis placed on atonement and forgiveness and humility and worth in spite of mistakes. This sort of story is a really good one to examine such themes in and though the repetition got to me a little, it does make sense in that a person apologizing often won’t immediately forgive themselves, even is someone else does.
at any rate, hopefully i’ll get to read more from this collection and more from this author in the future.
January 12, 2022
Interesting Take
I thought this was a unique take on the Beauty and Beast tale. While I thought the premis for the enchantress cursing the beast was weak/an extreme overreaction, I thought the events that followed was interesting. I enjoyed reading about the magic and the seemingly sentient spellbook. I also really enjoyed the bits when the “Beast” and Enchantress got to know one another.
I was a little off-put at times when the spell—to have a person’s outsides match their insides—caused the “Beast” to develop more warts in moments when I thought he was rightfully fustrated/upset. But overall, this was a fun, quick read. And I enjoyed the epilogue.
I thought this was a unique take on the Beauty and Beast tale. While I thought the premis for the enchantress cursing the beast was weak/an extreme overreaction, I thought the events that followed was interesting. I enjoyed reading about the magic and the seemingly sentient spellbook. I also really enjoyed the bits when the “Beast” and Enchantress got to know one another.
I was a little off-put at times when the spell—to have a person’s outsides match their insides—caused the “Beast” to develop more warts in moments when I thought he was rightfully fustrated/upset. But overall, this was a fun, quick read. And I enjoyed the epilogue.
September 27, 2021
Like a 2.5?
The Enchantress' whole reason for cursing the prince was ridiculous. a) He didn't do anything to your sister. He, like many people whose time tends to me monopolized by "duty" was frustrated and trying to find some time alone. b) If you sister was THAT torn up over a superficial crush and "rejection" I'd be more concerned with my sister's sanity than out to punish the prince. Seriously your sister fell apart bc she had a shy moment when trying to talk to the prince and he brushed her off. So you decide "hmm I should curse him." Stupid. In today's age you'd lose your job for this behavior and then how will you care for your sister?
Also the message about the warts appearing when either character had negative feelings was a little off putting. I get the point being that we shouldn't dwell on bitterness, revenge, ect. But the prince barely has a thought cross his mind and more warts appear. And here's the thing, humans have negative emotions and they are valid. Its def important to learn to work through them and move on. But just having the emotion cross your mind isn't like an automatic No No.
Finally, just a warning but this novella includes catfishing.
So what did I enjoy? I enjoyed the prince as a character. He was charming and sweet. I enjoyed the magical system and how it played out. I'd still read more from Peters but this just wasn't a favorite.
The Enchantress' whole reason for cursing the prince was ridiculous. a) He didn't do anything to your sister. He, like many people whose time tends to me monopolized by "duty" was frustrated and trying to find some time alone. b) If you sister was THAT torn up over a superficial crush and "rejection" I'd be more concerned with my sister's sanity than out to punish the prince. Seriously your sister fell apart bc she had a shy moment when trying to talk to the prince and he brushed her off. So you decide "hmm I should curse him." Stupid. In today's age you'd lose your job for this behavior and then how will you care for your sister?
Also the message about the warts appearing when either character had negative feelings was a little off putting. I get the point being that we shouldn't dwell on bitterness, revenge, ect. But the prince barely has a thought cross his mind and more warts appear. And here's the thing, humans have negative emotions and they are valid. Its def important to learn to work through them and move on. But just having the emotion cross your mind isn't like an automatic No No.
Finally, just a warning but this novella includes catfishing.
So what did I enjoy? I enjoyed the prince as a character. He was charming and sweet. I enjoyed the magical system and how it played out. I'd still read more from Peters but this just wasn't a favorite.
August 23, 2021
3/5 ⭐️
Interesting first tale in the series.
Interesting first tale in the series.
August 4, 2021
This was a charming Beauty & the Beast retelling about seeing past appearances. I loved how Camille Peters twisted the well-known tale and made it into a different story, but kept the same themes!
Astrid is a great main character. She's an enchantress-in-training who decides to get revenge on a prince for breaking her sister's heart. After the curse is cast, Astrid also becomes affected and sets out to undo the curse and finds that she might have misjudged the prince.
If you love fairytales, Beauty & the Beast retellings, or rooting for villains, this is a must read!
Special thanks to Camille Peters for an eARC of The Beast and the Enchantress. I really appreciate the opportunity to read this lovely fairytale!
Astrid is a great main character. She's an enchantress-in-training who decides to get revenge on a prince for breaking her sister's heart. After the curse is cast, Astrid also becomes affected and sets out to undo the curse and finds that she might have misjudged the prince.
If you love fairytales, Beauty & the Beast retellings, or rooting for villains, this is a must read!
Special thanks to Camille Peters for an eARC of The Beast and the Enchantress. I really appreciate the opportunity to read this lovely fairytale!
August 30, 2021
Amazing book. Beauty and the beast with a twist. Astrid comes off a little spoiled and almost selfish at first, but it seems as if her primary focus is her sister's happiness. So she can't be completely bad...? She seems to have a good heart, but she makes a mistake (or error in judgement) and spends the story growing and learning.The prince seems stuck up and rude. Calling out other peoples fault and bemoaning a life that he has. Can they both see past their first impressions to work together to break the curse? , it is a nice HEA with some twists and turns that are unexpected.
August 15, 2021
I really wanted to like this
The storyline is very much one of girls concerned only with boys. There isn't a ton of real development. It's entirely the story of two people with... Four supporting characters that get smallish speaking parts, if I recall correctly. It also tries too hard to sound "fancy." Unfortunately, the words and phrases don't feel natural, and some of them are not correct at all. In several parts, the phrasing made me feel that the book should be wearing a fedora and calling someone m'lady. There are so many good fairy tale retellings out there. I was really hoping this would be one of them.
The storyline is very much one of girls concerned only with boys. There isn't a ton of real development. It's entirely the story of two people with... Four supporting characters that get smallish speaking parts, if I recall correctly. It also tries too hard to sound "fancy." Unfortunately, the words and phrases don't feel natural, and some of them are not correct at all. In several parts, the phrasing made me feel that the book should be wearing a fedora and calling someone m'lady. There are so many good fairy tale retellings out there. I was really hoping this would be one of them.
September 4, 2021
Simply Charming! If your looking for a tender romance with an unexpected twist on a beloved fairy tale, this is the book for you! As usual, Camille takes a fairy tale and transforms it into a fantastic tale you never anticipated.
Astrid is sweet and loyal. She reminds us that there is a little bit of "beast" in each of us. Her story of love and forgiveness captures the heart. Not to mention the delightful Prnice Gladen! My inner introvert can totally retlate to him and his desire to escape the pressures of palace life and seal a moment to read. Their conflicts and romance pull you straight through till the end. A delightfully touching and happy read!
Astrid is sweet and loyal. She reminds us that there is a little bit of "beast" in each of us. Her story of love and forgiveness captures the heart. Not to mention the delightful Prnice Gladen! My inner introvert can totally retlate to him and his desire to escape the pressures of palace life and seal a moment to read. Their conflicts and romance pull you straight through till the end. A delightfully touching and happy read!
June 5, 2022
Ugh. This was so freaking drippy. Gah. Blegh..🙈
I couldn't. It read like a fanfic. Im not sure why it has the higher ratings... Maybe I'm just getting too old.
The sad thing is this is nota great starta series of books written by DIFFERENT authors on a theme of so called fairytale villains getting their happily ever after. I initially read Gothels book by W R Gingell which was fabulous ❤️ and I've now got all the books ready to read. But this one? Why is it the first one? Its just going to put off everyone who isn't under the age of 12 because damn its sickly sweet.
Please do not judge this series by this author...
I couldn't. It read like a fanfic. Im not sure why it has the higher ratings... Maybe I'm just getting too old.
The sad thing is this is nota great starta series of books written by DIFFERENT authors on a theme of so called fairytale villains getting their happily ever after. I initially read Gothels book by W R Gingell which was fabulous ❤️ and I've now got all the books ready to read. But this one? Why is it the first one? Its just going to put off everyone who isn't under the age of 12 because damn its sickly sweet.
Please do not judge this series by this author...
November 8, 2021
I've never been a big fan of the original fairytale of Beauty and the Beast. However, it's one of those fairytales that works amazing in retellings because it gives so much room for own versions and unique takes on the tale. After already reading two other books in this series, it was finally time to discover Peters' take on this famous tale. I had never read anything by Peters before, so it was also a great way to see if I wanna read more books by this author.
It took me a few chapters to get into this story, but once the story grabbed me I started loving it more and more with each page I read. The way this story progresses is amazing. The pacing is just perfect! I understand that some people might think it's a little slow, but I like how the author gave her characters the time to form connections, to confront each other with their feelings and to most of all face themselves and their flaws.
And there were quite a few flaws to be faced in this story. Where the original tale is also about someone else having to look through the ugliness for the curse to be broken, this tale is more about the characters having to accept and understand their own flaws to deal with whatever is happening to them. After all, if your own emotions are dictating what's happening to you, the only one who can truly break the curse is you yourself.
That's also the true power of the story. Yes, it's a romance. It's a sweet and wonderful romance where the characters really talk and form this meaningful connection. They really give the other something meaningful, something important and something rarely given. But it's not the romance in itself breaking the curse or being the key. These characters are better together, but they wouldn't have needed each other to end their suffering. And that? That's the kind of love I like to root for!
It took me a few chapters to get into this story, but once the story grabbed me I started loving it more and more with each page I read. The way this story progresses is amazing. The pacing is just perfect! I understand that some people might think it's a little slow, but I like how the author gave her characters the time to form connections, to confront each other with their feelings and to most of all face themselves and their flaws.
And there were quite a few flaws to be faced in this story. Where the original tale is also about someone else having to look through the ugliness for the curse to be broken, this tale is more about the characters having to accept and understand their own flaws to deal with whatever is happening to them. After all, if your own emotions are dictating what's happening to you, the only one who can truly break the curse is you yourself.
That's also the true power of the story. Yes, it's a romance. It's a sweet and wonderful romance where the characters really talk and form this meaningful connection. They really give the other something meaningful, something important and something rarely given. But it's not the romance in itself breaking the curse or being the key. These characters are better together, but they wouldn't have needed each other to end their suffering. And that? That's the kind of love I like to root for!
August 11, 2021
I really enjoyed this story. At first, I was a bit unsure whether I would like this story because the premise only sounded sort of appealing. It took me a few chapters to really get engrossed in the story, but once I did, I didn't want to put it down.
I liked seeing the characters grow throughout the story. There was a lot of good advice about dealing with mistakes, overcoming them, and moving forward.
The ending made me happy. And I really liked her spellbook.
Content: clean
Source: Review copy
I liked seeing the characters grow throughout the story. There was a lot of good advice about dealing with mistakes, overcoming them, and moving forward.
The ending made me happy. And I really liked her spellbook.
Content: clean
Source: Review copy
April 29, 2023
I appreciated the mix of romance and honest life experiences. Too often in the fictional world characters don’t deal with realistic experiences or challenges, making them harder to identify with.
I really did enjoy the ending. Getting into the book was a little difficult. I don’t particularly enjoy this author’s writing style all the time.
Would recommend for a sweet simple read.
I really did enjoy the ending. Getting into the book was a little difficult. I don’t particularly enjoy this author’s writing style all the time.
Would recommend for a sweet simple read.
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