Lillian ☁ Cloud 9 Books ☁'s Reviews > Beauty of the Beast: A Dark Beauty and the Beast Retelling

***** 4.5 Stars *****

"Wherever you go, that is my home."

Absolutely beautiful. A perfect retelling of one of the most famous fairy tales. This version doesn't involve talking teapots or enchanted roses, but this retelling is still beyond magical.

Prince Adam isn't a hairy beast with sharp teeth. He is just a man with a painful past. On the outside, he has scars all over his body from being burned. On the inside, he is hiding from civilization and himself. He doesn't trust anyone. If he is a monster, it is because others made him that way.

When Isabelle and her ill father stumbled onto his doorsteps during a blizzard, he tried to turn them away. But she held her head high and refused to be ignored. Eventually, their hearts thawed, and a relationship stronger than any spell was created.

This book isn't for young adults because there are some steamy scenes towards the end. And as the Prince has never been with a woman before, he fantasizes a lot about Isabelle.

I loved the story and the way the prince desired to be a better man all because of Isabelle. There were some moments where it was a little repetitive. For example, the story kept bringing up dust motes flying in the air. There were also some abrupt stops when the two were making out. But overall, I enjoyed every second, and I can't wait to read more by Rachel L. Demeter.