This is my first time reading Rachel L. Demeter and I freaking loved it! I fell in love with Beauty and The Beast as a little girl when I seen the Walt Disney movie for the first time. I guess it was my first taste of damaged, scarred bad boys. There is just something so beautiful about seeing past the surface and finding true love no matter the flaws. Plus beast gives Belle a whole library and what woman could resist a man that gives you a whole room full of books! So I try to get my hands on every retelling I come across.

Beauty of the Beast was a great retelling of the classic. I felt it was like a cross between Beauty and the beast, phantom of the opera, and maybe a touch of Cinderella thrown in there. I love that instead of Adam, the beast, being a magical cursed beast he was just severely scarred. Adam's backstory was a heartbreaking and dark one. Seeing what he lived through at the age of 11 got me right in the feels! My heart bled for Adam and I fell in love with him too. Isabelle was easy to love. She had such a bright spirit. She loved her father and was loyal to her step sisters even though they were worthless and didn't deserve her loyalty. She was caring and had a good heart. She was a perfect Belle.

Adam and Isabelle were adorable together. There was such a sweet build up to their love that it felt natural and real. I loved how because there is no magic in this that Adam doesn't magically because handsome. Isabelle truly loves him scars and all. I felt Rachel L. Demeter did a great job of writing a complex and multifaceted villain. Raphael was evil but his character was so well developed that I could understand why he was evil and though I hated him I at times felt sorry for all he had lived through too. I enjoyed this book from beginning to end and I loved the epilogue. It had everything I adore about the classic Beauty and the Beast with just enough difference to still feel new. Beauty of the Beast was a wonderful read and I would recommend it to anyone who loves Beauty and the Beast!

4 stars!

“Hope is a beautiful and magical thing. Grasp it tight, monsieur, and never let go.”

Oh my what a book! I don't read a lot of retellings but as of late I've read more than ever, if one of them is good you give the genre a chance and all that - and this one was by far the best I've read lately and it came at a perfect time since the movie is coming out. The Beauty and the Beast is a classic and a favorite, plus I loved the author's previous book so I jumped right in and I loved it.

“For so long, I've lived as if I'd died. I've forgotten how it fees to be alive, to breathe fresh air and feel the sun on my face.”

The story starts with a brief glimpse of Prince Adam's past and how he became reclusive and how he was left alone. Orphaned as a child, and having gone through a terrible time, he stays in his castle away from the public eye. Flash forward, we see Isabelle living with her sick Papa, and her 2 step sisters who are unbearable. She is forced to become engaged with a truly horrible person so as to ensure her father receives the best possible health care.

Until an opportunity arrises for her merchant father to make some money and she seizes the opportunity to run away and with her father and build a new life. But she doesn't take into account the terrible snowstorm and how seriously sick her father is so in the middle of a storm she seeks shelter at a castle that seems abandoned.

“Once upon a time, in a very far-off country, there lived a merchant who had been fortunate in all his undertakings...”

The story is so beautifully written with rich descriptions and it flows so eloquently that it was impossible to put it down even though - and that was the one thing it took a while for me to get used to - it had very little dialogue. Each chapter had beautiful but long descriptions and monologues that sometimes I had to go back a few lines and re-read but that was so minor and mostly just my issue which I loved after a few chapters.

“When his youngest daughter was little, everybody admired her and called her 'the little Beauty' so that, as she grew up, she still went by the name of Beauty, which made her sisters very jealous...”

The romance is a slow burn and the characters and deep and slowing developing with each chapter, we get multiple POVs - from the 3rd person - so the story creates a nice atmosphere that involves so many different characters each one with a unique voice and a unique personality that adds to the dark theme and the complexity of the story. I loved how easy it was to read but also how captivating it was without being too much. If retellings are your thing then this is a great read - if you're thinking about exploring the genre, this should definitely be on your list.

Aww! I love Beauty and the Beast and I LOVE retellings of it. This one is very special. It's a historical yet classic twist of the beloved story. It was gorgeous and I felt like I was watching the movie play out in my head. With different scenes and situations of course. I absolutely loved it. My favorite thing that comes from Beauty and the Beast is that it shows it's really what's inside that counts.

So this book is the Phantom of the Opera meets Beauty and the Beast and it works surprisingly well. Granted our hero is not born with his deformities but gets them the night his parents and sister are killed. Apparently the servants in the castle rose up and killed most of the royal family. Like who does that? From the way the author writes it didn't seem like the royal family were horrible people, There really was no reason to kill them at all but I guess we needed a tragic backstory for the prince.

Now the family that our villain is from needs to be wiped out more than the royals. And Raphael's mistress she needs to go too. Raphael forced Isabelle into an engagement and then tried to force himself on her and Vivian was just horrible in her attempt to be with him. She killed her husband so that she could marry him. Not that it really got anywhere as both of them meet their fates at the end of the book.

This book should be read by new adult and up as there are some graphic scenes in the story. I will read this book again in the future.

Unfortunately although I loved the premise of this book I couldn't get on with the writing style and didn't finish it.

Actual ranting: 3.5☆
I was actually surprised by this book. It was a very true retelling of the original tale, which I much appreciate, but I expected a bit more action and mystery.
I first started this book thinking it was a fantasy novel, so it's my fault I was anticipating magic and all that stuff (it is historical fiction/romance).
I liked the characters and the chemistry between Isabelle and Adam, but I wanted to see more about french society and the world, and I didn't. There were mostly three settings throughout the story and it focuses more on the romance.
Another thing I liked was the pacing. It took me less than a day to finish the book. It's not hard to get into. So that's something I loved because I usually struggle with that.

Thank you to Netgalley, Book Enthusiast Promotions, & the author Rachel L. Demeter for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
In the wake of the live action Beauty and the Beast I thought a different take would be good to read. I also wanted something a little bit more adult and I wasn’t disappointed.
Demeter has a way with words that makes the slow build of the book work. Even without the magic element the lives of Isabelle and Adam (Belle and the Beast) intertwine via her seeking shelter at the castle gates with her ill father after a series of very adult and dark abuse at the hands of a tormenter. Adam is emotionally and physically flawed and because of this he hides who he really is.
Overall a nice, adult, edition to the shelf of fairytale editions and I’m looking forward to seeing if the author will do more of them.

I requested this book from NetGalley because, although the “Beauty and the Beast” trope is not one of my favorites, I love a wounded hero, but this story didn’t move me. I’m not saying it’s a bad book and I’m sure lots of readers will enjoy it, but it didn’t work for me, I didn't get engrossed in the narrative and didn’t connect with neither of the leading characters.
I also didn’t appreciate the use of lots of adjectives and worn-out metaphors and imagery (“lit a fire inside her soul”, “caressed her skin with the sensual pull of a thousand fingers” – quotes from ARC). This over-describing interferes with my reading pleasure.
Perhaps it’s a matter of reproducing truthfully the original tale, but I always find a bit annoying that the regular fictional beast hero has precisely half of his face perfect, handsome, etc, and the exact other half scarred, mangled and so on. I guess I prefer it uneven.

This took Beauty and the Beast to a whole other level.. AND I LOVED IT! My heart broke for Adam and Isabelle and the struggles that they each faced. I also wanted to reach through the book and destroy Raphael for being such a vile creature. However the book also made me feel bad for him and pity him. I did NOT want to pity him. Any book that can hit me in the heart when I do not want it to is written beautifully and vividly and should be treasured on the shelf. I am a huge fan of Phantom of the Opera and Beauty and the Beast was my favorite childhood story. Putting them together in such a way was wonderful and the imagination behind it was just astounding.

Thank you, Netgalley for the opportunity to read this ebook for free in exchange for my honest-to-goodness review of Beauty of the Beast, Fairy Tale Retellings, Book 1 by Rachel L Demeter.
Format: ebook
Tissue warning: maybe for the prologue
HEA: Yes
Triggers: infant death (prologue), sexual assault
Narrative: Third person
My reviewer rating: 3 out of 5.
Recommend read: I haven't decided yet
Published: March 15, 2017

I really wanted to like this book. I love Beauty and the Beast in and of itself (feminists be damned) but this fell flat for me in quite a few areas.

What a take on the fairytale of Beauty and the Beast. This is definitely the adult version with a lot of angst, a gothic twist and strong emotional depth. Oh, also sexual tension and c h e m i s t r y!!!

Isabella is a beautiful and kind hearted. She lives with her not so nice stepsisters and cares for her ill Father. She is engaged to a wicked suitor who she goes to for a favor. He father wishes (Isabella fears this is is last dying wish) to visit a merchants fair and they need transportation. Isabella makes a deal with her fiancé for use of his carriage.

Adam is a scarred prince who experienced a traffic and horrific childhood. He witnessed the destruction by fire of his home/castle as well as the death of his family. He lives in shell of his home/castle in solitude and anger. We open with the scene of this playing out and it's heart breaking to read.

During Isabella and fathers journey to the fair they are caught in a storm and seek shelter in the decrepit castle. They are confronted by Adam at the door who tries to deny them help. Isabella will have non of that and convinces Adam to allow them shelter.

The beginning of Isabella and Adam's relationship begins with heartbreak as Isabella father dies. The two have so much pain, heartbreak and trust issues that it would seems almost impossible to insurmountable to overcome. But as the two come to know each other, slowly and carefully revealing their heart and thoughts to each other, they begin a healing process. But there are forces and people that are out to destroy, hurt and kill them.

What a rich and emotional read. It's got a dark feel but yet you have a sense of this promise of hope and happiness just in reach. The characters a so multi faceted, with rich depth and deep emotion. Chemistry and sexual tension jump off the pages.The feel and scenes suck you into the time period as well as what each individual is experiencing and feeling. The evil characters and villains you will truly hate. Your heart will ache for each of these characters. You will cheer for their well deserved HEA. Well written and a page turner.

First time reading this author.

In this remake of this classic tale there is no magic, no curse, not even a singing tea cup. Belle aka Isabelle is a support your family, make sacrifices and do the best you can kind of beauty. The beast is Prince Adam is a horribly scared man emotionally and physically, his best friend is a dog named Stranger who he rescued. Sebastian, is still a servant of sort to his family, more of a friend. Belles’ tormentor is a wicked abusive man with money, power and wants to own her in the worst way. The characters are complex, the relationship is earned, in a slow painful process that I completely enjoyed.
Isabelle runs from her tormentor and home after a horrific series of events and sexual abuse at his hands. Her plan to take her blind, ill father and find a new life for them is thwarted when the weather turns and they are forced to seek shelter at a dank, depressed castle behind rusted gates. When the door opens and she is greeted by a huge man in a dark cloak and a growling giant dog she nearly turns back toward the sure death of the storm. Forcing this dark giant to let them in drawing on her determination to improve their situation she begins a series of events that had me up all night reading while my household slept.
The beast, Adam, lives in his past. He is a living nightmare, swimming with the ghost of his past day and night. Living alone in a decrepit castle with his dog and family relics. He feeds his unhappiness and sorrow with solitude and bitterness. When this woman and her father crash into his solitude he does not adjust easily and become the gentle host. He overreacts to a simple event that will cut a deep wound in Belles heart. He has little to no experience with other people, he is like a lost child acting out. He stole my heart.
Oh Ms. Demeter created a repulsive character in Raphael, Belles tormentor. Deplorable actions and words, a complete piece of rot. I couldn’t have hated him more, so what does she do ? She gives him a background that almost had me feeling sorry for the vermin. That was a tricky little twist of the knife. I was feeling a tug not he old heart strings until he pulled the trigger and killed… well I’m not telling you who. He wasn’t her only wicked man. A most trusted man broke the heart of his friend.
I can’t wait to read more from this author. She twisted me around her finger with her wonderful story telling. The words were beautifully pulled together and created an adult version that does justice to the classic.

An unusual reselling of the classic and some would say timeless love story that many have grown to love. Yet this author in many ways stays close to the fairytale we know whilst adding a more realistic slant. Set in nineteenth century Europe with all its political unrest the author offers her readers not magic and curses but the aftermath of bloodshed and an unrelenting fire. Yes our Beast is a Prince, badly burned as a child and now hidden away from sight with just a dog and the occasional visit from an old friend.
Into this picture steps Isabelle, devoted to her ailing father and oddly having almost Cinderella like step sisters! Fear not though for events occur which mean Isabelle remains in the castle with Adam and slowly chips away at his hardened heart. Yet as with all good stories there is a villain but here the author makes him poignant to the point that as a reader I almost ( only almost) had sympathy for him.
Brutal at times , yet clearly a very grown up read. The romance is beautifully told and the author clearly enjoys writing descriptive prose. Nothing is rushed and I loved the way the couple grow to trust and ultimately love each other. Not always a story full of hearts and flowers though as its injected with tragedy and surprises. With a melodramatic climax that had so much resolved at once and yet even then I understood the reasons why . A dark and sexy retelling that's emotional with an ending to satisfy the most vengeful hearts! From a new to me author whose work I will look out for

This is an adult retelling of Beauty and the Beast and it starts really well.
Prince Adam Delacroix was only eleven years old when his entire family was massacred, an uprising, a revolution results in Adam just barely escaping with his life and bearing the nightmares and scars twenty five years later. He lives a life of solitude with his dog and his music preferring the isolation.
Isabelle is the daughter of an ailing merchant, she has two horrible step-sisters and is engaged to a monster. So life could be much better for both these characters and yes we know the story so things will be better once they meet but they don't meet under the best of circumstances and they have a lot to do before they understand each other.
Isabelle manages to see the man behind the scars and Adam realises there's still goodness in the world that left him for dead.
This is a good retelling and I liked both Adam and Isabelle and while I enjoyed this read I didn't love it, for me something was missing although I'm not sure exactly what.

I voluntarily read a review copy kindly provided by NetGalley and Book Enthusiast Promotions.

This novel was a very good read. I enjoyed the plot and the characters. The story has some likeness to beauty and the beast, but puts its own twist on the fairytale. This story contains romance and learning to look beyond appearances.
Prince Adam Delacroix watched his family killed at the age of 11. He has kept himself hidden at his castle. He is terribly scarred and has lost most of his feelings for love and compassion.
Isabelle Rose lives with her father and stepsisters. Her stepsisters are very selfish individuals and do not like Isabelle. Isabelle is engaged to Raphael Dumont, a wealthy viscount who is interested in Isabelle to anger his father about marriage. Isabelle realized Raphael's true nature and does not want to marry his but will for the sake of her father. Her father is ill and blind.
Isabelle and her father travel to a festival, her trying to escape her fiancee. With her father ill, they come across the castle of Adam Delacroix. At first Adam does not allow them to stay but Isabelle "convinces" him to. While there, her father tries to steal and is put in the dungeon. Isabelle exchanges her life for her father's. However, her father dies in the cell and Isabelle becomes very sick. Adam is upset with himself and cares for Isabelle.
Isabelle sees him as a monster, not completely for his appearance, but for his actions. Overtime, they both learn to accept the other and become better people. Adam is attracted to Isabelle and begins to care for her, but who could love someone as scarred as him. He wants to be a better person for Isabelle and realizes what was missing in his life. Isabelle begins to trust Adam and accepts him as a man, not for his scars. As they begin to fall in love, there are those who have ulterior motives and those who do not understand the situation, which leads unknowingly to betrayal. Will Adam and Isabelle get their happily ever after?

I really liked this retelling of the classic Beauty and the Beast fairy tale! I have been reading a lot of those lately (in anticipation of the release of the new live action movie), so I was worried I might start to get tired of the recurring theme. However, this author did a great job sticking to the theme while putting her own twist on several key points of the story.

Prince Adam Delocroix watched his family be murdered 25 years ago. Burned horribly while trying to save his baby sister, he has lived secluded in the castle, forgotten and assumed dead by the peasants who destroyed his family. When a young woman and her sick father unexpectedly arrive one night, seeking shelter, one mistake leads to tragedy and now Adam is faced with an impossible task: earning the love of the woman who hates him. Isabelle Rose is engaged to the violent Vicomte Dumont, a man who has abused her love for her father in order to obtain her hand in marriage. In a desperate attempt to flee with her father, she becomes trapped in a castle with a man who looks like a monster but has the gentle touch she has always longed for. But the question remains: can Beauty love the Beast?

Adam was a sweetheart, I really felt for him throughout the book. Yes, he had his moments where he was rude to Isabelle, but I also understood him and why he was so guarded. Isabelle was a gem as well, someone who had such strength of character to be willing to sacrifice herself for her father and forgive Adam for forcing such a sacrifice. They both grew tremendously over the course of the story, in confidence and in love for each other.

Great book, and I look forward to reading more by this author! She has a gift for fairy tale retellings, and I am eager to read the next book in the series.

ARC provided by Netgalley.

This was an interesting twist on Beauty and the Beast. I really enjoyed the characterization of Adam. I thought his character was well thought out and I liked how we are able to see him come out of his shell throughout the book. I also enjoyed Isabelle and Stranger a lot. However, I did miss having other iconic characters presented in the novel in some form. Not to say that Mrs. Potts had to show up as Mrs. Potts, but it would have been nice to have something along those lines. I still really liked this book and I will be reading the next one.

Since everyone has Beauty and the Beast fever right now with the upcoming release of Disney’s live action tale I figured it’d be a good time to read Rachel Demeter’s book.

This definitely read like Beauty & the Beast, Cinderella and Phantom of the Opera were tossed into a blender then poured out onto the pages and juiced up with adults only sprinkles.

Demeter has great character development as you’ll find the stepsisters completely irritating as fairytale stepsisters often are, the villain belongs in prison or pushed off a cliff, Beauty AKA Isabel is just as sweet as Disney’s version, her father has that same charming naiveté you’ll remember from the cartoon, Adam AKA Beast is the tortured soul angry at the world who just wants to be loved.

As a woman the hardest part of this book to read was the ‘Gaston’ fill-in Raphael, who played the villain of the story, raping Isabel. Any time a sexual act is forced upon a woman especially under threat to her family it’s horrendous. The author seemed to be trying to make amends for that by providing the readers with some majorly steamy XXX scenes between Isabel and Adam later in the book even throwing one in at the extreme end as if to conclude on that hot ‘n’ heavy note.

The only positive thing about this section of the plot line is that I felt Demeter did a good job showing the ongoing psychological trauma that can occur when a man forces himself on a woman and how that will affect any ‘healthy’ relationships she tries to enter into later. She even showed how often flashes of that abuse will arise when you’re trying to have a more positive sexual experience with an actual good person thereby making it more difficult. Once you can push through, then having a positive experience can often be the tipping point towards healing and re-educating your mind and body when it comes to sex.

I know most people who read this are going to focus on the fairytale like aspects and the love story arch between Adam and Isabel but I think this was an intriguing read because of the psychological development she portrayed through Isabel’s trauma and redemption. Granted I would’ve liked to see Isabel achieve that redemption by fighting for herself instead of allowing those she loved to be used as a means to bully her into submission so she needed to be rescued by a man which is kind of a disheartening idea that in 2017 we’re still needing men to rescue women. At least it still ended Happily Ever After …. with orgasms :-)