I have finished another of my bargain book finds and figured I would share it with you. The book is called Of Beast and Beauty, by Stacey Jay. The book is a fractured fairy tale, retelling Beauty and the Beast, with some very major twists.
The story is science fiction, mixed with a fairy tale. The story takes place on a world that is not Earth, in fact, Earth was abandoned when it became uninhabitable and the human race moved to a new world. Once they reached a new world, the spirit of the world tried to help them survive, but in doing so, mutated people at an accelerated rate. The mutation terrified some of the population, so they fought the gift of the new world and created domed cities to protect themselves. The story starts with a curse that is designed to reunite the two groups.
The story is different than the traditional Beauty and the Beast story, as there is no clear Beauty or Beast, insstead Isra and Gem, the two main characters, contain elements of both, as all people do. Both characters have the opportunity to grow and embrace their better natures as the story goes on. Isra, the princess in the story also grows from someone who is very childlike and naive to someone who is strong, curious and thoughtful. Gem, the prince in the story grows from someone who is angry and focused only on his own people to someone who cares for the bigger world, is gentle and caring.
the story is told from three different perspectives, Isra's, Gem's and Bo's. Bo is the second suitor in the story, who is determined to have Isra for himself, even though she comes to love another. The story is also a lot darker than many people may think Beauty and the Beast should be, but it a story that draws you in. The story contains mystery, romance, self-discovery and a dsytopian world.
I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a read that a spin on a familar story, as well as a rich story with vibrant characters, a rich setting and world and many elements of classic fairytales.
