This book was received as an ARC from Berkley Publishing Group in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and Thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.

I love the story of Beauty and the Beast and have read and seen many adaptations of the story. This one however had a new twist on the character of the Beast that caught my attention in a good way because the character focused on the connection he had with the girl Isabeau and not on his angry monster qualities at first compared to the Disney adaptations and the original story by Gabrielle-Suzanne de Villeneuve. Every page got better and better and more interesting as you read on and if you are fans of any of Beauty and the Beast than you will enjoy The Beast's Heart.

We will definitely consider this title for our YFantasy collection at the library. That is why we give this book 5 stars.

I loved everything about this book. The language was beautiful, the narrative compelling, the characters relatable and the ending satisfying. Just like in the Beast's castle, just as I started to ask a question, the answer appeared. It would have been interesting to hear a bit more about his grandmother and the fairy, but it wasn't necessary. I liked that the book didn't end with the transformation, but told a bit about the adjustment from beast to man. I would highly recommend this to everyone who loves Beauty and the Beast and is not fully satisfied by any other version.

It's always interesting to read a retelling of a Beauty and Beast story to see what they've included and what they've been influenced by. I was surprised how much this story took from the original story. I've never read someone using the dreams Beauty had.

Beast isn't a jerk in this, instead he's feral because he's been by himself in rundown castle for hundreds of years in the form of a beast. The book quickly does away with the idea that Beauty is a captive and instead makes him so pathetic that she agrees to keep him company.

I really liked how her family was expanded. In the original, she had lazy, spoiled sisters. I was so glad that when Beauty left the sisters started taking care of the house and develop as characters.

My one complaint is that the book could have been shorter. A lighter bit tighter in area.

Well, folks. You know the story. A cold-hearted prince meets Fairy Justice. Except this time the story is told entirely from the perspective of the Beast. Will the beautiful Isabeau fall in love with him and break the curse?

Full disclosure...I've always been in love with fairytales and I am a super-mega-raging Beauty and the Beast fangirl. I was just about six years old when the original Disney phenomenon hit the theaters and I remember watching it on the big screen like it was yesterday. It sounds ridiculous but this movie did alter the course of my little life. It ignited my love for epic romance. It set my standard for brainy, beautiful book loving heroines. Everyone who knows me knows that I'm obsessed with this story.

So I was excited to read a version of this story from the Beast himself. And, generally, I liked it. There's a heavy fantastical feeling threaded through the entire story and Leife Shallcross is a talented author who writes vividly and emotionally. If you like fantasy, and I do, you will probably enjoy this book.

However, and maybe it's just the reading mood I'm currently in, but I do wish that there was a little bit more going on in this story. A little more action. As this story is told from the perspective of the Beast A LOT of the story is happening inside his own head. It's a lot of inner monologue. And while it's executed superbly, I thought a little more action would have been nice. There were a few scenes that felt prolonged to me and I was tempted to skip ahead.

But, again, Ms. Shallcross is a very talented writer and weaves magic very prettily throughout this adored classic tale. If you're in the mood for something with an epic, contemplative feeling, check out The Beast's Heart!

When I asked a group of my high school students their interpretation of the message in Beauty and the Beast, they emphatically answered that it's not what's on the inside that counts. However, I then proceeded to point out to them that the "inside" of the beast, at least in Disney-fied and many other version of this tale, is that of a jerk for much of the story. For the most part, he's not nice and does not deserve Belle's affections or kindness. Finally, we have a retelling that breaks this mold. Keep in mind, Leife Shallcross' The Beast's Heart truly is a retelling of the traditional tale. There is not much different plot-wise: a prince-turned-beast, a father in need stumbling upon a castle, the beast saves his life, the beast demands the father's youngest daughter in exchange for his life, youngest daughter shows up, the two tiptoe around one another for months, and then the beast and daughter fall in love.

Readers will finally see the tale from Beast's point-of-view, and it is rather refreshing, honestly. Beast hates himself more than anything, and acknowledges his selfishness while also having brilliant moments of selflessness. Leife Shallcross' The Beast's Heart is a gorgeously written retelling of a classic story, shedding light on the other side of the tale to allowing readers a glimpse into what it's like for a man to find himself inside the body of a beast.

This is an imaginative premise that mostly delivers on its charm. There are interesting character twists, with the inversion of the sisters' and father's feelings regarding the heroine's capture and subsequent good fortune. The Beast is written well, and the account from his point of view adds both dimension, depth, and humanity to the character.

That said, the plot doesn't differ greatly from the known story, and because of the nature of the narrative (largely recounting their day-to-day activities) the book feels stiff and slow in a few places in the middle. Readers could skim or skip large chunks without significant detriment or loss of storytelling. It is for that reason that I wouldn't feel comfortable recommending this for YA readers, though it otherwise fits the bill quite well.

*Thank you to the author and NetGalley for giving me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*

Literally one of the best retelling's of Beauty and the Beast I have ever read. It was so unique and I love the spin that was put on this.

The Beast has been put under a curse from a fairy. For centuries he lives alone in a castle, battling with his beast self. A man is lost and struggling through the woods so he uses the magic that his Chateau grants him to help the man survive. He sees in the man's dreams that he has a beautiful daughter. The beast terrifies the man into bringing the daughter to live with him so that he will not be alone anymore. However, stricken with guilt for being so selfish, he tells Isabeau of his loneliness and gives her the choice to stay with him for a year to quench his solitude.

I loved that this story completely took out any of the "Stockholm syndrome" critiques that some people have of this tale. It was simply a story of a woman trying to help a beast. It made so much sense to me and I was intrigued by the friendship they were building and the mystery of why the beast was cursed. The only reason this didn't get 5 stars was that in the middle there was a lot of the beast watching his enchanted mirror and following Isabeau's family in the wake of her departure. Some of it got a little boring and I wanted to know what was going to happen with Isabeau and the beast. Those parts however, made the story so much more than a love story so I do appreciate them for what they were.

A beautifully written fairy tale featuring The Beast from Beauty and The Beast fame. This is told from Beast's point of view, starting from his memories of living wild in the forest. Beast finds his way back to his castle, now a falling down ruin after many years of neglect. Magic within the house takes care of the Beast, his needs, and the house. He slowly evolves into a more human-like Beast, which is when he encounters Beauty's father, setting in motion the Beast's fascination with Beauty. This story is so well written, echoing the classic movie versions which most are familiar with, but expanding into the lives of Beauty, her family, and The Beast's feelings and thoughts. I so hate the thought of finishing this book I have already decided that I will start it again, it is that good.