Release Date: February 3, 2015
Publisher: Henry Holt and Co.
Pages: 208
Source: eARC
Pages: 208
Source: eARC
ISBN-10:
0805099808
Rating: 5 Hearts
Book Description
"Sarah has always been on the move. Her mother hates the cold, so every few months her parents pack their bags and drag her off after the sun. She’s grown up lonely and longing for magic. She doesn’t know that it’s magic her parents are running from.
When Sarah’s mother walks out on their family, all the strange old magic they have tried to hide from comes rising into their mundane world. Her father begins to change into something wild and beastly, but before his transformation is complete, he takes Sarah to her grandparents—people she has never met, didn’t even know were still alive.
Deep in the forest, in a crumbling ruin of a castle, Sarah begins to untangle the layers of curses affecting her family bloodlines, until she discovers that the curse has carried over to her, too. The day she falls in love for the first time, Sarah will transform into a beast . . . unless she can figure out a way to break the curse forever."
Review
Short and Sweet:
I loved this charming and beautifully written story!
To Elaborate...
Lately, I've been very hesitant about reading Beauty and the Beast retellings. As I've mentioned before probably (since this consumes my life right now), I'm doing my honors thesis on 3 YA Beauty and the Beast retellings (Cruel Beauty, Beastly, and Of Beast and Beauty). I've been semi-avoiding others because I haven't wanted it to distract me from the ones I'm ridiculously analyzing. However, when I saw this one on NetGalley, I couldn't resist. It looked SO CUTE and that cover, gah! Beautiful. I decided to make an exception, and I'm so glad I did.
The writing in this story is absolutely beautiful. It's like magic itself and reminds me just a bit of The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender (prose stylistically). It reads super quickly, and I loved every bit of it.
What I love most in the incredible feel of the story. In the beginning, Sarah's parents are splitting up (no known magic at this point), and it feels so real. I absolutely adore when stories are full of magic but are so grounded in the painful realities everyday people deal with all the time. As she slowly discovers the immense magic around her, her life doesn't just up and become a fairytale. Yes, there are beasts; yes, there is a handsome boy; and yes, there are curses and magical atmospheres galore. Even so, that doesn't mean everything is perfect. Her grandmother is cold, the boy isn't all he seems, and there is no magic kiss that fixes everyone's problems.
This is definitely one to pick up in the new year. It's a completely lovely middle grade, but it can easily be enjoyed by all ages. I can't wait to read more from this author!
5 Hearts!
The writing in this story is absolutely beautiful. It's like magic itself and reminds me just a bit of The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender (prose stylistically). It reads super quickly, and I loved every bit of it.
What I love most in the incredible feel of the story. In the beginning, Sarah's parents are splitting up (no known magic at this point), and it feels so real. I absolutely adore when stories are full of magic but are so grounded in the painful realities everyday people deal with all the time. As she slowly discovers the immense magic around her, her life doesn't just up and become a fairytale. Yes, there are beasts; yes, there is a handsome boy; and yes, there are curses and magical atmospheres galore. Even so, that doesn't mean everything is perfect. Her grandmother is cold, the boy isn't all he seems, and there is no magic kiss that fixes everyone's problems.
This is definitely one to pick up in the new year. It's a completely lovely middle grade, but it can easily be enjoyed by all ages. I can't wait to read more from this author!
5 Hearts!
That's awesome you're doing your thesis on YA Beauty and the Beast retellings. :-) I have this one on my radar...looks really good So happy you liked it so much!
ReplyDeleteThanks! It was just so freaking adorable. I couldn't put it down and ended up reading it in one sitting.
ReplyDeleteWow, making your thesis on YA retellings?? That's so amazing and impressive Samantha!!
ReplyDeleteAnd this one sounds lovely, must add it to the wish list for sure!!
Aw, thanks!! Basically, we're encouraged to pick something that we are okay dedicating a lot of time to, so that was what I wanted! My roommate is doing her's on Harry Potter. :)
ReplyDeleteHope you get a chance to read it!!