Early Review – Beastkeeper by Cat Hellisen (4.5/5 stars)
Reading Level: Young Adult
Genre: Fantasy
Length: 208 pages
Publisher: Henry Holt and Co.
Release Date: February 3, 2015
ISBN-13: 978-0805099805
Stand Alone or Series: Stand Alone
Source: eGalley from NetGalley.com
Rating: 4.5/5 stars
I got a copy of this book through NetGalley to review. This was an absolutely wonderful retelling of Beauty and the Beast. I loved the writing style, there was wonderful description here and wonderful characters.
Sarah has a mother who hates the cold and constantly has their family chasing summer from one location to the next. When Sarah’s mother finally walks out on her and her father, the family is thrown into discord. Sarah’s father becomes more and more unkempt and reclusive and eventually decides that Sarah should go and live with her grandmother in an old abandoned castle. There Sarah finds that her family is twisted with curses upon curses.
This was such a creative way to retell this fairy tale and is the best retelling of The Beauty and the Beast that I have read. This book is set in modern day but has a distinctly gothic and fairy tale feel to it. The story is moody and dark, very atmospheric. The writing style just fits a dark fairy tale like this so well.
Sarah has been through trial after trial and her sadness taints the whole story. Yet coupled with her sadness and loneliness is a determination to make things right. When she meets a mysterious boy who is strangely old , she finds help in unraveling the sad history of her family.
Sarah has to unravel curse upon curse to untwist the sadness that has damaged her family so severely. On her journey she meets talking animals, evil sorceresses, enchanted castles, and a forest filled with magic.
This is a melancholy story filled with beautifully lyrical writing. There is beauty and hope hidden underneath all the sadness and loneliness. I really loved the atmosphere of the story and the clever way that curses and fairy tale elements were woven together to write a story with many twists and turns,
This was a quick stand alone read that was a joy to read and absolutely stunning.
Overall I adored this creative and beautifully written retelling of Beauty and the Beast. I loved the writing style and beautiful description throughout. I loved the determined and sad heroine who fought to make things right. I loved the magic and curses and the fairy tale feel the whole story had to it. Highly recommended especially to those who love lyrical writing and fairy tale retellings.
