Of Beast and Beauty
by Stacy Jay Book Review by Miranda Fraser ISBN: 9780375991004 This novel actually has a few genres, one of which being Science Fiction>Dystopia. The reason I bring that up at the very beginning is because that has to be the most interesting take on Beauty and the Beast I have ever heard! Instead of some hidden castle deep in a forest on earth this story actually takes place on another planet. Beauty living in the world of the Smooth Skins that exists under a dome and Beast being of the Monstrous living in the desert outside the domes. On this planet and ancient covenant was born with a dark god who promised the Smooth skins (normal looking humans) that their dome would be sustained as long as they continued to honor their blood sacrifice to him. The Monstrous live outside the dome in the desert where they are dying of thirst and hunger if not illness. Their people are in danger and dying while the Smooth Skins live happy lives under this dome. They hate them and wish to take that stability from them. Thus a feud, going as far back as when the first people came to this planet. The novel goes back and forth between the point of view of Beauty and the Beast for the majority of the book, but there is a third character, a possible Gaston, if you will, that also gets his own chapters. The origin-story goes that when the colonists first came to the planet, there was one 'god', the Pure Heart. But over time it split into two and the Dark Heart appeared, using dark magic it was able to provide the colonists with what they wanted and overtime they formed a deal with him and forgot about the Pure Heart. But much like the Enchantress in Disney's Beauty and the Beast, the Pure Heart appeared at the door of the Smooth Skins as a Monstrous woman in white robes with black hair, an attempt to get them to show compassion. But not only was there no compassion there was violence. She sought aid from the Monstrous, but they could sense that she was not really one of their own and they too sent her away. And so this being placed a curse on both people, until one from each clan could learn to love the other their worlds would be falling apart and no amount of blood sacrifices would heal them. Centuries later and both people's worlds are falling apart, each set in their ways and beliefs, but are they correct? Now, in the world of the smooth skins the blood sacrifice seems to keep the noble families safe, but the common people are weaker and born with deformities and mutations (a side effect of the Pure Heart's curse). In this dome is a kingdom and each King and Queen has a role to the Covenant; when the dome is in need: damage is done to it, crops are weak, etc., a blood sacrifice is made. Always a Queen and she must willingly sacrifice herself. The King then remarries until his life is over, then either his daughter marries or his wife remarries. That is the way of their people. So when the King suddenly dies from an enemy attack his blind, slightly mutated, daughter is left to take the throne. (It is important to note that her mother was from a different planet and thus her looks were already slightly different from those of the people on this planet.) Isra was blinded at age four in a terrible fire, and while she has no clue what she looks like, she has already discovered that she looks different from other Smooth Skins and fears that she has scales and mutations so terrible she must be hid away. This sad woman will marry, far too young, in the spring and the Covenant will continue for her people. But as terrible as his death was one of the Monstrous that invaded the city was able to speak their language and Isra was determined to learn from him. His name is Gem and when they were captured his father promised the at Gem would stay there, forever a prisoner if they were set free. A twist on Beauty and the Beast, this time he's the prisoner. Of course, they had a plan, they wanted roses from the Smooth Skin's garden and thought leaving Gem behind was their best bet at getting them. Gem's people are lizard like, a mutation developed to help them survive the desert. He is tall with broad shoulders, black hair similar to the Smooth Skins, and he is covered in orange and golden scales like a snake. A VERY different look as far as Beasts we've come across in this book review series. As time progresses between when her father died, and the winter months were to begin, her and Gem worked every day on a royal garden that would help stop mutations for her people, or so she thinks. In the meantime, they get to know the other very well. And while Gem is convinced in every way that he can't stand her and thinks she's weak and useless, he too can't help but acknowledge they have feelings for the other. His people think and act very differently than hers and so to him she is weak and a coward. He says he hates everything about her and her people, but in truth he doesn't hate her. In fact, at one point they sneak away outside the dome and have a romantic moment that was almost R rated. From that moment on nothing is the same. Isra, spirited as always, wants to change the city, wants to help Gem's people, wants the world to change. Her people grow more weary of her and the potential that she is insane, and she loses more of her rights and freedoms, but not before she helps Gem escape to hopefully save his people. When her eyesight returns the people grow wearier and decide to rush her into a marriage and to her sacrifice. She spends her days waiting for a sign of Gem's return even as her city begins to fall around her. Time is running out as the curse is running its course with their people. Will she end up a sacrifice or will she and Gem break the curse with their love for the other? I have some much I wish to say about this novel, but there's too much that would ruin the plot twists and the AMAZING ending. But I promise you this, there are plot twists around every corner, betrayals and family secrets, deaths and heartache, characters I didn't even talk about, and above all a satisfying ending! The emotions this story evokes and the growth of the characters as a whole are inspiring and memorable. When I started this book I wasn't sure how I felt about it, but by the end, I was so thankful I picked it up! I look forward to reading more from this author and highly recommend this novel. Read on my fellow bookworms, may we one day have Belle's library! As always links to the author can be found below.
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