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Mrs. Beast
An enchantingly dark story about what became of the great fairy tale beauties after they said “I DO”. The story begins with Beauty, who shortly after marrying the Prince realized she preferred her loving Beast to the vain and eccentric Prince. Leaving the comforts of the castle behind, she embarks on a quest to find Elora, the enchantress who changed the beast into a Prince, and convince her to change him back into the Beast. Her quest takes her through Grimm Land, a place where angst clings and spreads like lichen, and where she meets Snow White, Rapunzel, Sleeping Beauty and Cinderella and learns what became of them after they married their princes. Snow White lives in a commune deep in the woods with the Seven Dwarfs, their seven wives and many children. Rapunzel lives in the low end of Storyendburg and makes her living on the streets. Sleeping Beauty is an opium addict living in the Kingdom of Dreams, and Cinderella hides behind a veil refusing to accept the toll aging has taken. Mrs. Beast turns fairy tale beauty inside out and invites the reader to do the same in this delicious twist on these fairy tale classics.
178 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 22, 2009
31 people are currently reading
1180 people want to read
About the author
Pamela Ditchoff
13 books12 followersPamela Ditchoff is the author of six novels: Beatrice Penny Survived, KDP, Phoebe's Way, ECW Press, Mrs. Beast and Princess Beast as Kindle books by Stay Thirsty Press, Seven Days & Seven Sins, Shaye Areheart Books at Random House, and The Mirror of Monsters and Prodigies, Coffee House Press. Her short fiction has been published in numerous literary magazines, including The Chicago Review and Gargoyle. Her work has also been anthologized Who Woods These Are, a history of Bread Loaf Writer's Conference, and in Vital Lines: Contemporary Fiction About Medicine. Pamela is also the author of two teaching texts published by Interact, Poetry: 1,2,3, and Lexigram Learns America's Capitals. Pamela has a Master Degree in English, Creative Writing and she has taught at Michigan State University. She also taught poetry writing in elementary and secondary schools througout Michigan with The Writers In Schools Program. Her honors include: winner, Chicago Review Award for Fiction, Scholorship Bread Loaf Writers Conference, and Fellowship, Sewannee Writers Conference. Pamela lives in Western Head, Nova Scotia.
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
April 25, 2012
Mrs Beast was an ambivalent novel for me. On the one hand, there were these incredibly good ideas the author had (the forest of mutilated animals, the lake of longing) and I was so excited to read about them. My heart raced for the potential this book held, but drooped at the same time for what it did with it.
Mrs Beast, as you can probably tell from the title, is about Beauty, now married to Prince Runyon (formerly the Beast), flees from her terrible husband. After being changed back from Beast to Prince, their relationship has changed a lot. The once loving and caring Beast, her sensible companion, was completely wiped away by the arrogant and pathetic Prince who replaced him.
A few months into her terrible marriage full of neglect and humiliation, Beauty decides to take off and find Elora, the fairy who once cursed the Prince, and ask her to do the curse again.
On her way to the Glass Mountain (where Elora is supposed to live), Beauty encounters the strangest people on her way through Grimm Land.
Even though the idea behind the story was really great and lots of tiny details delighted me, a lot of things didn't work in this book.
I'll start with the writing style and the form of narration. For the most part, the story was told through a third person narrator focusing on Beauty, and it would have been great if the author had stuck with just that. Unfortunately, Beauty's side of the story is interrupted again and again by the rambling Elora, who tells the stories of the different Fairy Tale Beauties Elora encounters and comments on the morale of the story, which is just plain annoying as it goes on.
Elora usually talks about the role of the Grimm psychologist who misjudged the Princesses and their needs and thus destroyed their lives.
Another thing that bothered me greatly was the fact that most of the fairy tales Ms Ditchoff referred to were twisted beyond recognition. Rapunzel for example had five children from different men and had lived in a nomad camp for a while. What the hell? What sense does it make to put Rapunzel into a desert and make her become an irresponsible super slut? Because that's what she became. I don't really care if fairy tale princesses sleep with whomever they like. If it makes sense in the context of the retelling, that's okay. But Rapunzel leaving her children (some of them mere toddlers) alone at home to just go do the nasty with some Italian guy (and I still don't understand why he was Italian. There was Grimm Land, Charming Land and French Fairy Tale Land, but no Italy in the world the author constructed, so how come he was Italian) and Beauty commenting dreamily on that how Rapunzel wasn't dependant of anyone, maybe the author should also have noticed that maybe Rapunzels small children were dependant of her.
When it comes to fairy tale retellings, there are different scenarios: either you have one fairy tale and you tell it without changing it much and just add a few twists to it. Or you retell the fairy tale so that it becomes completely different. Or you just take all the fairy tales you can imaging, mix them together and try to make the mix work. Only those mixes don't usually work. In any case, I have never read a book were it worked.
Pamela Ditchoff just took many beloved characters from fairytales, put them together in a pot with some criticism, feminism, anti-Prince-ism and, worst of all, a commentary on how stupid and old-fashioned and naive and gullible the princesses were.
The thing is, it's all true. Fairy Tale beauties aren't intelligent. The Prince sees them, they fall in love, they marry, they live happily ever after. But have you ever known a smart Fairy Tale Prince? They aren't smart either, as far as I know. And they didn't do anything wrong. But Pamela Ditchoff comes and picks on them and tells us a story about how nasty, sadist, egoistical, mean and retarded they all are.
This would have been a great twist if Beauty's husband had been the only nasty Prince in the tale. It would even have added to the depth of the Fairy Tale. Beast changing back to figurative beast and all. But making all the Princes (with the sole exception of Cinderella's husband) into mean creatures, rapists and idiots is really overdoing the whole thing.
What killed the story for me was the fact that Ditchoff didn't just leave the reader and let them interpret the bad behavior and the passivity of the princesses for themselves but she comments on it through Elora, who doesn't cease to criticize the Fairy Tales and their meaning.
I was really disappointed in this book. I'll give it 2 stars for the great ideas but the way they were presented was just revolting.
Mrs Beast, as you can probably tell from the title, is about Beauty, now married to Prince Runyon (formerly the Beast), flees from her terrible husband. After being changed back from Beast to Prince, their relationship has changed a lot. The once loving and caring Beast, her sensible companion, was completely wiped away by the arrogant and pathetic Prince who replaced him.
A few months into her terrible marriage full of neglect and humiliation, Beauty decides to take off and find Elora, the fairy who once cursed the Prince, and ask her to do the curse again.
On her way to the Glass Mountain (where Elora is supposed to live), Beauty encounters the strangest people on her way through Grimm Land.
Even though the idea behind the story was really great and lots of tiny details delighted me, a lot of things didn't work in this book.
I'll start with the writing style and the form of narration. For the most part, the story was told through a third person narrator focusing on Beauty, and it would have been great if the author had stuck with just that. Unfortunately, Beauty's side of the story is interrupted again and again by the rambling Elora, who tells the stories of the different Fairy Tale Beauties Elora encounters and comments on the morale of the story, which is just plain annoying as it goes on.
Elora usually talks about the role of the Grimm psychologist who misjudged the Princesses and their needs and thus destroyed their lives.
Another thing that bothered me greatly was the fact that most of the fairy tales Ms Ditchoff referred to were twisted beyond recognition. Rapunzel for example had five children from different men and had lived in a nomad camp for a while. What the hell? What sense does it make to put Rapunzel into a desert and make her become an irresponsible super slut? Because that's what she became. I don't really care if fairy tale princesses sleep with whomever they like. If it makes sense in the context of the retelling, that's okay. But Rapunzel leaving her children (some of them mere toddlers) alone at home to just go do the nasty with some Italian guy (and I still don't understand why he was Italian. There was Grimm Land, Charming Land and French Fairy Tale Land, but no Italy in the world the author constructed, so how come he was Italian) and Beauty commenting dreamily on that how Rapunzel wasn't dependant of anyone, maybe the author should also have noticed that maybe Rapunzels small children were dependant of her.
When it comes to fairy tale retellings, there are different scenarios: either you have one fairy tale and you tell it without changing it much and just add a few twists to it. Or you retell the fairy tale so that it becomes completely different. Or you just take all the fairy tales you can imaging, mix them together and try to make the mix work. Only those mixes don't usually work. In any case, I have never read a book were it worked.
Pamela Ditchoff just took many beloved characters from fairytales, put them together in a pot with some criticism, feminism, anti-Prince-ism and, worst of all, a commentary on how stupid and old-fashioned and naive and gullible the princesses were.
The thing is, it's all true. Fairy Tale beauties aren't intelligent. The Prince sees them, they fall in love, they marry, they live happily ever after. But have you ever known a smart Fairy Tale Prince? They aren't smart either, as far as I know. And they didn't do anything wrong. But Pamela Ditchoff comes and picks on them and tells us a story about how nasty, sadist, egoistical, mean and retarded they all are.
This would have been a great twist if Beauty's husband had been the only nasty Prince in the tale. It would even have added to the depth of the Fairy Tale. Beast changing back to figurative beast and all. But making all the Princes (with the sole exception of Cinderella's husband) into mean creatures, rapists and idiots is really overdoing the whole thing.
What killed the story for me was the fact that Ditchoff didn't just leave the reader and let them interpret the bad behavior and the passivity of the princesses for themselves but she comments on it through Elora, who doesn't cease to criticize the Fairy Tales and their meaning.
I was really disappointed in this book. I'll give it 2 stars for the great ideas but the way they were presented was just revolting.
January 31, 2012
Not my cup of tea.
April 12, 2012
2.5 stars. I understand what Pamela Ditchoff was aiming for, but too frequent anachronisms and lessons that became lectures made this a bumpy ride.
December 1, 2018
The Idea Was Interesting
The writing was a bit lazy and simplistic. I like the concept, but it could have been so much better. It seems like a lot of authors recently have become obsessed with putting a twist on a classic tale to the point of losing good storytelling.
And of course, there's all the unnecessary extra pain and suffering the characters have to endure. And why do they always forget her name is Belle?
The ending was clever compared to the rest of the story, but I honestly can't recommend this to anyone.
The writing was a bit lazy and simplistic. I like the concept, but it could have been so much better. It seems like a lot of authors recently have become obsessed with putting a twist on a classic tale to the point of losing good storytelling.
And of course, there's all the unnecessary extra pain and suffering the characters have to endure. And why do they always forget her name is Belle?
The ending was clever compared to the rest of the story, but I honestly can't recommend this to anyone.
August 24, 2017
NOT your fairy tale of Beauty and the Beast. Along your journey reading you'll meet several Fairy Tale creatures from your childhood book, but they're NOT the same. You must read the book to find out about Snow White and her handsome prince, and Beauty and her former beast Prince Runyon. It's is a lot of fun and sadness too.
April 29, 2021
A very interesting book that involves lot of fairytales . beauty and the beast snow white rapunzel sleeping beauty and Cinderella . fairy tale beauties doesn't live always hapilly with their prince's but live the life the life's they want .
January 20, 2018
The description hooked me but I didn't make it past page 30. I just couldn't get into the writing style.
October 1, 2023
Found this book online. Still unclear to me, is this a real published book? Felt more like bad fanfiction. Very poor quality writing, like a new writer’s first attempt.
February 25, 2024
Pamela is my dear cousin and lifelong friend, so I'm prejudiced no doubt. I love all of her books.
August 7, 2014
Actual Rating 4.5 Stars
By the fifth page I was in absolute love with Mrs. Beast. It is the perfect satire of fairytales, with tons of amusing pop culture thrown in with Elora and her trusty hound. I loved the twists to Grimm tales included, Beauty's quest and run ins with other fairy tale beauties kept me captivated and on the edge of my seat. The conclusion to Beauty's quest is a twist, but in my opinion a very satisfying one and it really followed the other themes uncovered in this story.
People who like retellings to do the originals justice may be wary of this one, as it paints Beauty's Prince more disgusting than we could possibly ever picture him from the Disney version. It is a satire through and through but one that reveals well examined truths and delivers great entertainment.
This would have been five stars easy if it weren't for the editing that is severely needed throughout. As a kindle exclusive the formatting is a little iffy in some places as well. Not so bad that it's unreadable-hardly. But a once over would definitely benefit it.
By the fifth page I was in absolute love with Mrs. Beast. It is the perfect satire of fairytales, with tons of amusing pop culture thrown in with Elora and her trusty hound. I loved the twists to Grimm tales included, Beauty's quest and run ins with other fairy tale beauties kept me captivated and on the edge of my seat. The conclusion to Beauty's quest is a twist, but in my opinion a very satisfying one and it really followed the other themes uncovered in this story.
People who like retellings to do the originals justice may be wary of this one, as it paints Beauty's Prince more disgusting than we could possibly ever picture him from the Disney version. It is a satire through and through but one that reveals well examined truths and delivers great entertainment.
This would have been five stars easy if it weren't for the editing that is severely needed throughout. As a kindle exclusive the formatting is a little iffy in some places as well. Not so bad that it's unreadable-hardly. But a once over would definitely benefit it.
November 12, 2014
Honestly, this was one of the strangest and weirdest things I have ever read.
Belle (or how she is called in this book Beauty) is described as naive, stupid and annoying, so the author betrays everything I loved from reading the story and yes, I admit it, watching the Disney movie. I could not believe that this novel was about sex All. The. Time! It is a fairytale, how could somebody think of that here?
I had high hopes when I started reading and all I got was a disgusting description and perverts. Good job there! (Caution: sarcasm!)
If you like the fairytale, don't read this. Don't do this to yourself. Belle deserves better!
Belle (or how she is called in this book Beauty) is described as naive, stupid and annoying, so the author betrays everything I loved from reading the story and yes, I admit it, watching the Disney movie. I could not believe that this novel was about sex All. The. Time! It is a fairytale, how could somebody think of that here?
I had high hopes when I started reading and all I got was a disgusting description and perverts. Good job there! (Caution: sarcasm!)
If you like the fairytale, don't read this. Don't do this to yourself. Belle deserves better!
November 18, 2014
Within the alabaster walls of Palace Fleur de Coeur, alone with her husband inside the Great Hall, Princess Beauty faces away from Prince Runyon, the back of her tulle and silk gown hiked up at the waist.
Beauty finally has her Prince but yearns for the Beast he once was.
I should have stopped reading after that first sentence! Beauty's life with Prince Runyon is nothing like she expected it to be. The Prince comes across as a very bad imitation of a Monty Python royal. Beauty seeks a way to return the foppish Prince back to her beloved Beast and encounters other fairy tale characters. Rather sad...
Beauty finally has her Prince but yearns for the Beast he once was.
I should have stopped reading after that first sentence! Beauty's life with Prince Runyon is nothing like she expected it to be. The Prince comes across as a very bad imitation of a Monty Python royal. Beauty seeks a way to return the foppish Prince back to her beloved Beast and encounters other fairy tale characters. Rather sad...
December 11, 2013
I really just couldn't decide how to rate this book, so I settled on "it was OK". It was clever, but I struggled to buy into her presentation of different princesses (Cinderella, Snow White, Rapunzel, etc.). Her premise seemed to be that we have culturally boxed ourselves into a place where it is impossible to respect anyone who is beautiful and/or kind. That perspective seems a both too absolute and dystopian to me. So, kudos for a clever storyline, but I just can't buy into her final conclusion.
June 16, 2012
Pamela Ditchoff has written an entertaining romp through some of the Grimm's stories that is just plain enjoyable. I read this book with nothing more than entertainment in mind, and that's exactly what she delivered. While Runyon's lispy speech patterns were a little difficult to follow at first, once I got past the first couple episodes they just added to the world. Elora & Croesus gave great interludes - the pop-culturish references & snark were amusing.
August 29, 2013
This was amazing! I loved the fact that this story focused on the flaws of fairy tale princesses and how their endings probably aren't as happy as we think they will be when we read these stories as children. This is more of an adult/mature teen book though. It's funny but the humour is rather dark and adult and there are some twisted implications in the text but this book is totally worth reading.
March 18, 2013
It's like a feminist, romantic (erotica), open-up-your-eyes story and even though it was easy to grasp, it's not very easy to accept. Lol. I'm a fairy tale nut and Beauty and the Beast is my favorite tale so I had to read this. I get where she's coming from, I really do. The intent is well appreciated, the delivery is just not that ... easy to absorb.
February 2, 2015
This book was very hard to rate. The author had some amazing original ideas. But the presentation of them was only ok. At times I was confused at what she was trying to say and when I finally understood, it just depressed me. Even with this the plot kept me reading and I was genuinely interested in storyline
February 13, 2013
This book was interesting. I couldn't put it down.
Because with thing going on in my life I didn't know when I would be able to finish. I finally got some free time last night and I finished it. Worth readint
Because with thing going on in my life I didn't know when I would be able to finish. I finally got some free time last night and I finished it. Worth readint
June 13, 2012
Loved it! The premise of the book is what happens after "Happily Ever After".
July 18, 2012
it really wasn't as good as i thought it was going to be. Pretty good lesson to it though.
January 21, 2013
Good story, but the writting style is not my cup of tea
July 2, 2014
I bought this free on my kindle and love it. It's a different take on what happened after the happily ever after and it's amazing. Sometimes things just don't work out.
March 30, 2015
I love fairy tales and stories based on fairy tales, but this book is just ridiculous. Very poor writing, vulgar, no world building. It reminds me a little of Piers Anthony novels, but even worse.
April 3, 2014
Great ideas but poorly executed.
October 7, 2014
This book is shit.
I actually think I may be dumber for reading it.
It's like bad middle school fan fiction.
I actually think I may be dumber for reading it.
It's like bad middle school fan fiction.
June 22, 2015
Great premise, but badly written.
January 18, 2016
It was an OK read, but I am a die-hard Disney fan and what the author did to the prince and princesses HEA's - or lack thereof - didn't sit well with me. It wasn't a retelling in the normal sense.
December 14, 2014
Excellent idea. It was a bit boring at times though. Overall, it was a pretty good story.
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews