Not entirely what I was expecting based on the cover and description. I struggled with it a bit, as I found the writing well done, it was simply not my cup of tea. I can’t fault the author for that.

Marvelous by Molly Greeley is a captivating novel that will resonate with readers who appreciate historical fiction, particularly those drawn to stories about the French royal court, the Renaissance, and the themes of resilience, acceptance, and the complexities of human relationships, as well as those who enjoy a slow-paced, emotional, and reflective narrative.

Tells the true story of Beauty and the Beast through Pedro, a young Spanish boy who was stolen from his home by pirates and Catherine, a young girl who is offered as his wife to pay off her father's debts.

Overall, I liked the characterization of this a lot. I felt Pedro and Catherine both had very strong voices and pieces to them. The author has a lovely way of turning prose at moments. And the imagery was fantastic.

I didn't care for how Pedro was introduced to the French court. I understand they saw him as an oddity, but it felt a bit like a cruelty to take us through this group of people's impression of him and this person's. It just wasn't necessary. And I just couldn't get into the story much past their wedding. Something just felt off to me.

Thanks for the ARC!

Marvelous is a retelling of Beauty and the Beast royal court of Catherine de’ Medici during the Renaissance. The first section of the novel moves really fast. We get vignettes of the main characters' childhoods and early lives. This is not a writing style that personally works for me. As the novel progresses, we get more personality from the characters. Overall, this is an okay read for most and a good read for fans of Beauty and the Beast.

I was obsessed with the premise of this book and so stoked to ready it. I was so relieved that it delivered! This is such a bonkers story, and Greeley renders it with such care and compassion. I loved this.

A beautifully told piece of historical fiction, providing a look at both the lavish and inhumane sides of life “at court”. Heartbreaking!

I wanted to love this one! Beauty and the Beast is one of my favorite fairytales, and B&B retellings are some of my favorite reads. To have one that takes place in the court of Catherine de Medici? Say less. Unfortunately, this book just took too long to get juicy. I found I was really struggling to get through the first three quarters, which breaks my heart to say. The writing, while good, also felt very... unattached. I was hoping for better!

When I first received this book, I was thrilled to find out that the 'Beauty and The Beast' story and Marvelous itself are based on a true story. I am of course one of those people who see "Beauty and the Beast" and absolutely need to read it regardless of anything else. I hoped it was going to be good, but I just could not get into it. The book moved really slowly and it felt like it took 2000 years for anything to happen, and then when it did, it was nothing to write home about. I did love the historical note at the end of the book, but this one was just not for me.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

This was just a vivid and beautiful story. I loved seeing where the beauty and the beast fairy tale comes from.

Other people have said this

Enchanting. Molly Greeley has pulled off a piece of magic to tell a dazzling love story about the outcast's ache to be cared for and belong. This book broke my heart and put it back together again."--Allison Epstein, author of A Tip for the Hangman

A mesmerizing novel set in the French royal court of Catherine de’ Medici during the Renaissance, which recreates the touching and surprising true story behind the Beauty and the Beast legend, from the acclaimed author of The Clergyman’s Wife and The Heiress.

Wow! Marvelous by Molly Greeley delivers one of the most vivid world building and writing I have read recently. I was there seeing, feeling, experiencing the emotions the characters were going through. Very difficult first few chapters for me to read personally, since the subject matter of loss and grief are a trigger, but the way the author introduced the characters, described the scenes and told this epic love story was brilliant.

Marvelous is a powerfus tale of love, family, devotion, and the lives we build for ourselves and our loved ones. I have always loved Beauty & the Beast, and now having read the true story of how the legend was born, the story of two hearts beating for each other, I love it even more. For fans of historical fiction, women fiction and romance Molly Greeley's novel is nothing short of spectacular. It is, one might say, simply Marvelous!

Thank you to NetGalley, Molly Greeley and the publisher for the advance copy.

I found this book to be really engaging and magical and I loved the premise. I'm a sucker for fairytale-like fantasy so this story was right up my alley. I am looking forward to reading other books by the author.

Marvelous is a historical retelling of the life of a 16th century man with hypertrichosis (excessive hair growth) which might (or might not) have been the inspiration for Beauty and the Beast, written and reimagined by Molly Greeley. Released 28th Feb 2023 by HarperCollins on their William Morrow imprint, it's 416 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. Paperback format out in 1st quarter 2024 from the same publisher.

This is a compelling idea; how the real life of a person with a genetic condition could play out during a time period where the "best and brightest" simply didn't have the scientific knowledge to understand why people varied from the norm. As such, MC Pedro was kidnapped from his birthplace and sold as a curiosity to Catherine de’ Medici, and lived his life as a favored pet, more or less. She arranged a marriage for him and gifted some of his children to friends (this really happened).

The author has taken a great deal of artistic license with the historical framework (she partially credits the pandemic with limited research opportunities). The book is written in a dispassionate third person present tense which feels artificial in places. It's also ornate and bombastic throughout. Overall, it's quite readable and tragic, and a worthwhile story, based on actual historical events. The execution was wanting.

There is no deep character development, almost no dialogue, and a stuttery "highlight reel" type narrative describing the high points of Pedro's life along with his wife.

Three stars. Worth a look for die-hard Beauty and the Beast fans.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

{3.5 stars}

Pedro is a young boy who is unusual, it sets him apart and makes him a target. What makes him an outcast on his home island, makes him desirable in the king's court as an oddity. So he is kidnapped and taken from his home into a world of opulence and more importantly education. He quickly becomes a favorite of the king and queen and they decide to find him a wife. Catherine is the daughter of a merchant who has gotten himself in over his head in debt and so he offers her up. She must marry Pedro sight unseen, and when she sees him, covered in hair from head to toe she wonders if the myths are true and he really is a monster... and what it means for her future.

I really loved the first half of this one but then it lost me a little. It went from being a historical romance with a little political intrigue to being more of a story of motherhood. We got less Petrus and more Catherine and her children and my attention waned. I love the idea that there is a real story that inspired Beauty and the Beast but the reality is much sadder than the fairy tales have made it out to be.

Thanks to William Morrow for gifted access via Netgalley. All opinions above are my own.

DNF @ 53%

I really wanted to love this one (beauty and the beast retelling in the court of Catherine de Medici? Sign me up) but unfortunately it was a little too slow for me. 2 stars in my book (2 stars means “it was ok” in my book)

Lovely writing that is emotive and lyrical. I had a hard time getting into the plot, but enjoyed the language of it.

Oh, how I would die for an embossed hardcover of this book. It is so beautiful and I loved it so much. Romance is my favorite genre and Beauty and the Beast is my favorite Disney movie so It was nice to read a book about the people who inspired it. And what is romance without a bit of heartbreak as well? Some of the characters in this book go through such hard times (like Pedro) and your heart simply breaks for them. The ending of this book had me smiling and satisfied. I definitely will be recommending this book to my friends. It was Marvelous!

I really wanted to love this book because it was a historical retelling of Beauty and the Beast. However, it was very slow and seemed drawn out. I think it would have been better if this novel was shorter. Nevertheless, I recommend this for fans of fairytale retellings.

Pedro, a young boy with the rare condition that caused him to be covered with hair from head to foot, is bought as a gift for the French king, and eventually is married to Catherine, the beautiful daughter of a penniless merchant.

I have heard of the story of Petrus Gonsalvus, but only in passing, merely the fact that he existed, a sort of historical oddity - a man who was brought to a king's court and made his living by his hairy countenance. In this much embroidered retelling of his life, Greeley succeeds in bringing him heart-wrenchingly to life.

There's a lovely, fairytale-like quality to the writing - which surely you must expect when Petrus and Catherine are depicted as an inspiration for Beauty and the Beast - but also a hazy feel to it, fitting when much of the story is the memories of a pair of people coming to the end of a long, eventful life. I really enjoyed the way the relationship between Petrus and Catherine slowly comes to life, developing and changing over decades.

I also liked how the author wove the wider history of 16th century France into the background of the story - she remains cognizant of the setting and how the Gonsalvuses' lives are affected by the turbulent politics of this era. But what really elevated this book to five stars for me was how the characters grapple with the fact that they are effectively enslaved, dependent on the whims of the royals who shelter them, and how the author shows us that in many ways, Petrus's hairiness is both a blessing as well as a cross to bear.

I initially thought I was getting a retelling of the fairytale Beauty and the Beast. What I got was a historical fiction wonder. Most often people who have an abnormal medical condition have their stories told within the context of a circus story. Molly Greeley literally brings Pedro's story to life. His abnormality set people on a course of believing he was not human. Pedro was forced to endure things that we cannot even comprehend as being acceptable. He was abandoned as a child, kidnapped, sold, kept in a cage, and presented as a gift. Although he ultimately had a roof over his head, food in his belly, an education, and the protection of the king, he was at the mercy of the royal family. Even his marriage was prompted by the desire of the queen to see if he would father children that looked like him.

Readers not only get to experience what Pedro endured, but also what possible indignities his wife Catherine had to navigate through. To go from being a well loved and cared for daughter to a pawn in a queen's play. Greeley wrote a story filled with complicated situations and emotions. This was truly a fascinating tale.

I received a copy of this title via NetGalley.