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Trompe l'Oeil: Beauty and the Beast Retold
A castle full of wonders.
Gardens of indescribable beauty.
A rose unlike any other.
But perhaps the alluring mystery of it all is merely a baited trap. The master of the castle is a fearsome beast, the sight of whom is enough to prostrate one with terror.
Do not trust appearances.
The warning lingers in Beauty's mind.
What then should she trust?
Gardens of indescribable beauty.
A rose unlike any other.
But perhaps the alluring mystery of it all is merely a baited trap. The master of the castle is a fearsome beast, the sight of whom is enough to prostrate one with terror.
Do not trust appearances.
The warning lingers in Beauty's mind.
What then should she trust?
222 pages, Paperback
Published June 11, 2022
1 person is currently reading
2670 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
December 1, 2022
Beauty & The Beast fans, this one’s for you! 🌹
Trompe l’Oeil by Bethany Kohler has the old world charm of a Jane Austen novel blended with allegory akin to The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. It made me think of my favorite classics while also making me reflect deeply on my own life and heart.
Reading this book was bit like stepping back in time and being swept away on the most magical adventure!
Ways this book delighted me:
🥀 the Beast behaved completely different than the Beast I have come to expect from the Disney version
🥀 the magical garden was utterly gorgeous and full of mystery I wanted to know more about
🥀 Belle had a really clear arc as a character and changed dramatically from beginning to end
🥀 the book challenged me to look into my own heart and ask whether my motives are always pure
🥀 I got goosebumps reading about the magic of the Beast’s world, the iridescent rose and the expansion of the castle building and grounds that never ends!
🥀 it reminded me there is always hope and how true love is one that waits with patience and grace.
This story dives headlong into the idea of true love and where it really comes from!
I definitely recommend it for fans of Beauty and the Beast, the Narnia series, Lord of the Rings, the Princess Bride, Anne of Green Gables, and Jane Austen novels.
This novel holds a truth as old as time. 🌹
Trompe l’Oeil by Bethany Kohler has the old world charm of a Jane Austen novel blended with allegory akin to The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. It made me think of my favorite classics while also making me reflect deeply on my own life and heart.
Reading this book was bit like stepping back in time and being swept away on the most magical adventure!
Ways this book delighted me:
🥀 the Beast behaved completely different than the Beast I have come to expect from the Disney version
🥀 the magical garden was utterly gorgeous and full of mystery I wanted to know more about
🥀 Belle had a really clear arc as a character and changed dramatically from beginning to end
🥀 the book challenged me to look into my own heart and ask whether my motives are always pure
🥀 I got goosebumps reading about the magic of the Beast’s world, the iridescent rose and the expansion of the castle building and grounds that never ends!
🥀 it reminded me there is always hope and how true love is one that waits with patience and grace.
This story dives headlong into the idea of true love and where it really comes from!
I definitely recommend it for fans of Beauty and the Beast, the Narnia series, Lord of the Rings, the Princess Bride, Anne of Green Gables, and Jane Austen novels.
This novel holds a truth as old as time. 🌹
August 20, 2022
An intriguing and unique take on Beauty and the Beast. I'm not an avid reader but this was a super easy and quick read. I don't want to spoil it but I'll just say... I couldn't put it down. You need to get your hands on a copy.
March 19, 2024
A truly wonderful retelling of a beloved classic, brimming with thoughtful nuggets that keep you thinking long after you've finished the last page.
Some of my favorite passages:
"I was gone for that many hours? I would have guessed it had only been one! It is amazing how we can experience the passage of time as fast or slow, though time itself never changes." "True," Nasira replied. "Our perceptions do not influence reality, only our own experience of it."
and
"It matters little what you call him, so long as you let him define the name, and not the name define him." (Eheeay asher Eheeay -Exodus 3:14)
and also on page 104 with the mention of "heather" flowers for I always find a book especially special to me when it contains "heather" ;^).
Some of my favorite passages:
"I was gone for that many hours? I would have guessed it had only been one! It is amazing how we can experience the passage of time as fast or slow, though time itself never changes." "True," Nasira replied. "Our perceptions do not influence reality, only our own experience of it."
and
"It matters little what you call him, so long as you let him define the name, and not the name define him." (Eheeay asher Eheeay -Exodus 3:14)
and also on page 104 with the mention of "heather" flowers for I always find a book especially special to me when it contains "heather" ;^).
April 19, 2025
This was a lovely retelling of a beloved story. But, it wasn’t just a rerun of a familiar plot. It was both original yet true to the story. I thoroughly enjoyed it! Many fairy tales lack in lessons that folk tales offer. This read like a bedtime story while still making you think!
December 5, 2022
I had the pleasure of meeting the author at a book fair and was immediately hooked by the subtitle "Beauty and the Beast Retold." This whimsical retelling takes a different tack than the Disney version, gradually unfolding in a very sweet allegory. I love the descriptions of the castle with its never-ending grounds, aviary with rain pounding, and cozy library. Best of all is the character of the fearsome, yet mysterious Beast Beauty gradually comes to love.
March 28, 2023
Trompe l’Oeil is a lovely retelling of Beauty and the Beast. It’s primarily written in the style of an old fairytale and is filled with unexpected enchantment. One of the things I loved best was the ending. The unexpected twist made the story even more sweet.
January 10, 2025
I’m a sucker for classic fairy tales. Retellings can be fun to read, but I sometimes find them too modernized, lacking the charm of the original story. That being said, I was absolutely enchanted by Bethany Kohler’s Trompe l’Oeil: Beauty and the Beast Retold.
The book is a retelling of the old fairy tale written in a lovely classic style. Kohler expands the story and adds her own creative flair. I found myself excited to explore more and more of the Beast’s magical castle and gardens. I was drawn in by the breathtaking beauty of the images and the unique magical enchantments that Beauty encountered.
Kohler adds an unexpected twist to the story, transforming it into a spiritual allegory. This adds depth and mystery to the book and gives the reader much to ponder. Like most fairy tales, there’s something of a “moral to the story,” on multiple levels, that can catalyze soul-searching for the thoughtful reader.
I decided to read the book after seeing this quote on Kohler’s social media:
“My target audience is people who like to chew on what they read and not simply be entertained or distracted….people who voluntarily pick up 19th century literature because they like the old fashioned language and purple prose.” But don’t let the 19th century reference deter you. This book doesn’t have the unfamiliar language and tedious feel that I sometimes encounter while reading Jane Austen. (I love Austen’s books but have to be in the right head space to read them). Kohler’s work reminds me more of George MacDonald’s fairy tales — profound truths shared in simple yet alluring prose. It’s a treat to read something new that feels like a classic fairy tale.
The book is a retelling of the old fairy tale written in a lovely classic style. Kohler expands the story and adds her own creative flair. I found myself excited to explore more and more of the Beast’s magical castle and gardens. I was drawn in by the breathtaking beauty of the images and the unique magical enchantments that Beauty encountered.
Kohler adds an unexpected twist to the story, transforming it into a spiritual allegory. This adds depth and mystery to the book and gives the reader much to ponder. Like most fairy tales, there’s something of a “moral to the story,” on multiple levels, that can catalyze soul-searching for the thoughtful reader.
I decided to read the book after seeing this quote on Kohler’s social media:
“My target audience is people who like to chew on what they read and not simply be entertained or distracted….people who voluntarily pick up 19th century literature because they like the old fashioned language and purple prose.” But don’t let the 19th century reference deter you. This book doesn’t have the unfamiliar language and tedious feel that I sometimes encounter while reading Jane Austen. (I love Austen’s books but have to be in the right head space to read them). Kohler’s work reminds me more of George MacDonald’s fairy tales — profound truths shared in simple yet alluring prose. It’s a treat to read something new that feels like a classic fairy tale.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews