I was thrilled when I found another retelling of Beauty and the Beast. In my opinion there is never enough of them. However I like for them to have a special sort of twist something to really hook me. I'm not sure that this book had that. It just seemed more of a typical retelling of the story. It wasn't terrible but it isn't the best either. It is a quick read though which sometimes is just what you need.

Thank you to #Netgalley for sending an eArc in return for an honest review.

3.5 stars
This cover is so pretty! So, I was excited to try out this book but it was a little harder for me to read. Beauty Reborn is written by Elizabeth Lowham and it is a retelling of Beauty and the Beast
Beauty was an interesting character, she got on my nerves a bit. However I grew to understand her as I read the book. I loved how Beauty was herself but she also grew throughout the book. Beast was a sweetheart and I loved getting to know him. He was different from other beasts and he seemed kind.
The storyline was interesting and it was an intriguing twist on Beauty and the Beast. It did take me harder to get into this book but I did end up enjoying it. I am excited to see if there will be more books in the series. The side characters were honestly a bit annoying and had some growing up to do. However I would still recommend this book. I would recommend Beauty Reborn to those who enjoy fairy tale retelling but are ready for a heavier sort of book.

Content warnings: sexual assault and the repercussions of it

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the publisher through Netgalley. All views expressed are only my honest opinion, a positive review was not required.

“For all the thorns I’d faced, at last I’d found the roses.”

Fairytale retellings are definitely a favorite genre so I jumped at the chance to read this book. Beauty Reborn is a creative if darker twist on the much beloved Beauty and the Beast fairytale. It’s a story of the deepest hurts and struggles combined with second chances and hope.

The story begins much like several retellings. For me it most closely resembled Beauty by Robin McKinley and the Disney cartoon version. However, for all the similarities like the father picking the rose and Beauty taking his place, the magical castle, Beauty’s love of reading, and of course the Beast himself, there are compelling differences which drew me into the story. It’s a little confusing in the beginning because Beauty’s story switches back and forth between the past and her present circumstances, but I was soon drawn into the narrative and found I couldn’t put it down.

At first, Beauty comes off as somewhat unlikable. She’s the youngest of three sisters and thrives on her intellect. She’s often described as whimsical. But, what makes her unlikable is her personality when she becomes enamored with Stephan. All too quickly, she learns that he’s not what he seems. He leaves her so broken that she revels at the chance of going to Beast’s castle to be eaten by him. Little by little my attitude about Beauty changed as she reveals more of what happened to her. I soon understood her fears, melancholy, and distrust of not only Beast, but all men.

I absolutely loved Beast. His reason for being a beast is different than any previous retelling I’m aware of and I enjoyed the way his story is revealed through the stories Beauty reads to him. He’s extremely sensitive to Beauty’s needs and infinitely patient with her. I enjoyed the way the author portrayed Beauty’s healing process as she helps the Beast learn to read and write. I also enjoyed their play acting scenes. The ending was fast paced and I’m hoping that we’ll get Beauty’s nasty sister Astra’s story and that she’ll learn her lesson much like the Beast.

This author is definitely one to watch out for. I enjoyed her writing style and was impressed by the depth of emotion she put into the book. Just a word of warning, this book deals with some deep topics like sexual assault and the aftermath, including suicidal ideation. While the author handles this very sensitively and nothing is described in detail, I’d still recommend it for older, mature teens. I received an advanced complimentary copy from the publisher. All opinions are my own and voluntarily given.

I’m always interested to see how people reimagine fairytales, so this retelling of Beauty and the Beast caught my eye as I was browsing on NetGalley.

I like the juxtaposition of the handsome man who is a monster on the inside versus the man who is outwardly a beast, but inwardly gentle and self-contained. It’s a more extreme version of that idea than I’ve seen done in other stories, and it also allows the story to focus on what it is like as a sexual assault survivor to face a new opportunity for relationship.

I liked the pacing of the story, too. The relationship between Beauty and the Beast gently builds, showing the progression of the friendship and deepening affection between them. I also really liked the way the story shows Beauty processing what happened to her and her journey of healing.

BEAUTY REBORN is a shorter book at under 200 pages, so it was a really quick read. Parts of it reminded me of Robin KcKinley’s BEAUTY, but new elements and twists kept the story fresh and me engaged. All in all, I think this is one fans of the original fairytale do not want to miss.

I loved this book! Beautifully written, Beauty is a clever, witty, and a strong female lead. This retelling has intriguing twists on the original tale, without losing any of the original enchantment. I loved the witty banter throughout the book. The conflict between the siblings had me angry and frustrated along with the characters. The story had a buildup that left me on the edge of my seat at the end, despite already knowing the ending to beauty and the beast, I felt desperate for a happy ending, and curious to how it would come along. I look forward to reading this book again and highly recommend it.

"I'm still afraid of the unknown, and afraid of the past too. But you're worth the risk"

I am honestly surprised by how much I enjoyed this book! Beauty Reborn takes a unique twist on the classic beauty and the beast story focusing more on healing, regret and self-discovery. I thought the author did well on plotting the story and writing the characters. I loved reading about Beauty and the Beasts interactions, how they were so gentle with each other, it was such a sweet romance. I also loved how Beauty really discovered herself throughout the book. The family were still a prominent part of the book although not as deeply explored as I would've expected them to be.

I loved the castle! Like the way the author described everything was just amazing! Their conversations were so interesting too! I loved how the author included a little bit of philosophy and took the time to explain the wishes and all the regret that came with them. Beauty herself was an interesting characters, the author did write her trauma well however as a fantasy reader I would've liked more stakes, maybe Stephen being a little more threatening at the end but this is just a personal preference. The authors writing style is something I can only, ironically, call whimsical. It was like soft, if that makes sense and i thought it matched the tones of the story really well, however it did take me a bit to get used to.

The ending was just perfect and the epilogue just wrapped everything up in a pretty little ribbon. It was a good read and I swear after reading this quote gave me goosebumps, I just loved how it tied into the story and really portrayed beauty's change.

"Perhaps the next time a girl went running out at night, crying and hoping to be eaten, she would instead find a sword to lift."

Overall I think this was definitely a solid read! Thank you to NetGalley, Shadow Mountain Publishing and the author for providing me with an eArc, all of these thoughts are my honest opinions.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and Shadow Mountain Press in exchange for my honest opinion.

Genre: Fairy Tale Retelling of Beauty and the Beast, Romance
Spice Level: Low (kissing but has references to assault)

BEAUTY REBORN is such an unusual take on BEAUTY AND THE BEAST. I really loved it! There's something about this story that is interesting for our time period with the obsession of surface beauty (think influencers and social media) and what that means as we find ourselves. This is a coming-of-age, a romance, how to navigate family relationships, and finding joy type of story.

There is family friction! Yay! It's so much more realistic. Not everyone thinks Beauty is the bomb—in fact, her sisters and her rub each other the wrong way. Beauty is seen as frivolous, never series, and a host of other descriptions.

Beauty doesn't see herself as beautiful—and even though this is a common trope, in this novel, I thought it worked because of her inner-demons. And she really does have reasons to run away from her life and the danger there.

In this story, Beast is very, very hesitant. Each word is measured. This added a depth to his character that I didn't expect. Oh, and the magical cursing! It's also not what I expected—and it was fresh and new and relatable!

Beauty Reborn is a great title for this book because the main character, Beauty, must figure out who she is and what she's worth. In essence, she is reborn. It helps that Beast sees her differently than she sees herself, but it is her arc and because of herself that she overcomes the trauma of the past.

This is a fantastic book for YA or adults. The themes are handled with sensitivity and could even open up a dialogue about how we treat others and personal worth over what society might believe.

Absolutely fabulous!

Yes! I highly recommend this book!

Happy reading!

In the first chapter I felt like I was jumping in in the middle of the story, but as you read Beauty slowly reveals more of the story. This book is an interesting take on the story of Beauty and the Beast. I really like how the author wove in how the books Beauty and the Beast read together helped Beauty figure out how to break the spell and kept her from making a similar mistake with the fairy. It was an enchanting tale!

Oh wow! This was a beautiful Beauty and the Beast Retelling! Such a pleasure to read this achingly poignant story for those who need it and for those who need to understand. It really opened my eyes to the struggle of life when you are hurting, the running away and turning to face your fears! I loved this re-invention! You don’t want to miss it!

I was first drawn to this book because the cover is so striking. Also Beauty and the Beast has always been one of my most favorite fairy tales.
This version, while similar, is different, with compelling aspects added to it.
It does include a library and a beast and another nasty beast who never gets his comeuppance.
I got a bit attached to the annoying little fairy.
Astra got exactly what she deserved.

I must apologize to my family for nearly completely ignoring them yesterday, because I was completely involved in this story and didn't want to stop reading. And yes, it was a one-dayer. I generally enjoy fairy tale retellings, so I was excited to read this book. The prologue kind of threw me off though, because it was very vague and made me worried that the entire story would be like that. I always get annoyed when past issues are hinted at, but never fully explained in a story. Thankfully, this book did not end up being that way. The full story did come out, just not all at once.

Before I started reading the book, I was unaware that this deals with sexual assault. I think the author handles that part of the story in the perfect way, and does a very good job of showing the reader how much that can affect the victim's entire life.

Having Disney's "Beauty and the Beast" running through my head while reading this book, I kept comparing the two. There are a lot of differences, but I liked them and felt that they worked well for this retelling. If you plan on reading this - and you really should - just plan on hanging out on your couch all day, because you won't want to put it down.

Beauty has already encountered a beast – a man who knows nothing of love and takes what he wants. Even her family’s loss of fortune doesn’t put her far enough out of his reach for her to feel safe.

When her father returns from the enchanted forest with a stolen rose and reports of a beast, Beauty sees her chance to escape the monster that haunts her. After all, her life has already been stolen from her.

What she finds in the magic castle is nothing like she expected. And maybe, just maybe, she’ll heal enough to love again.

The narrative is of a diary style – at times overly descriptive while at others whole sections are brushed over with a single sentence. As the story progresses, we get a more fluid storytelling, as if the author was impatient to get through the beginning.

Parts of the story are told in flashbacks as we learn the full truth of all Beauty endured at the hands of her tormentor.

Beauty Reborn is a beautiful tale of growth and recovery after assault. But Beauty’s growth is not just in healing from what happened to her. In the beginning, she’s thoughtless, often maliciously cruel to her older sister, and thinks she’s smarter than everyone else.

By the end, she has learned kindness – from a beast no less. She’s learned to put others before herself and to consider their wants and needs. And she’s become open-minded.

Beast’s character could have benefitted from a little more development. While their romance was very sweet to watch, he was a little one dimensional.

Overall, Beauty Reborn is an enchanting retelling of Beauty and the Beast that sticks closely to the traditional narrative.

4.5 Roses
No swearing
Minor mention of blood, but no descriptive injuries.
I’m giving intimacy a 3, but only because of the topic of assault. I think it’s handled well, but it is a topic readers should be aware of before reading.

(Thank you to Shadow Mountain Press and Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book.)

Thank you NetGalley for an advanced copy.

This was beautifully written. It was close enough to the Beauty and the Beast story to recognize it, but removed from it enough to enjoy the novelty of this world and its characters.

The topic of sexual abuse was treated in a gentle way. It was mentioned, the feelings that it brings up were detailed, but the act itself was not. No matter what the sexual abuse looked like, not matter the act, no matter the details, it is sexual abuse, it is wrong and terrible. Because it was so well thought out and written, the details didn’t matter, the concept and feelings on the page were more than enough to be heard.

It was a beautiful story. I will looking up the author and read her other works!

Beauty and the Beast retelling, anyone? This was an interesting read for me. I enjoyed it, but it had a different vibe compared to my usual choice of books.

There are a lot of flashbacks so you get little snippets of the past slowly throughout the story as Beauty interacts with Beast. Their relationship was really sweet and I liked how they both helped each other grow.

Beast was my favorite with his quiet and steady personality. He was a gem.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

A big thanks to NetGalley and Shadow Mountain Publishing for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

CW: Mentions of rape and sexual assault.

Beauty Reborn by Elizabeth Lowham is a YA fantasy retelling of Beauty and the Beast. Our main protagonist Beauty lives a life of fairy tales, being the youngest daughter she never expected to rise above her station and find love in those with a bit more money. But everything changes when the noble baron Stephan kisses her hand during a dance, and proclaims his love for her. And she gives him all her love back, until she denies him and he forcefully takes it anyway. Then her father emerges from the forest with a stolen rose and the tale of a ferocious beast. And Beauty takes it as a chance to get as far away from Stephan as possible.

I couldn't pass up this being a Beauty and the Beast retelling, but it wasn't the best one I've read. I loved Beauty and her headstrong attitude, it was refreshing detail to the many damsels that end up in these types of stories. The plot however, was a little lack luster. The writing style was a lot of telling and not showing, which ended up being just a drivel of information with no real creation of tension.

A familiar story, but also not. A Beauty and the Beast re-telling (which I’m a sucker for) with some twists and surprises. There are things that are different than the usual tale and I really liked how the curse worked. I can’t go into more detail because I don’t want to ruin it. :)
Beauty had a family to save and makes the choice to save them. She goes on an adventure of sorts and learns things about herself and the Beast. the ending was good with no unanswered questions.

***Trigger Warning***
This book deals with sexual assault. It is done in a sensitive way, but it is mentioned more than once and is part of the storyline .

Unique take on a Tale as Old as Time!

Beauty is running from herself, from a past she can't escape and she will gladly accept a beast's lair as refuge. Except, this beast is far more gentle and kind than any man she has known. Can she break free of her inner prison and find safety in the love of a beast?

This story is not only unique in its retelling but also in its prose. The author definitely has her own voice in storytelling. It took me a bit to initially get into the story, but once I did I was thoroughly engrossed. I really enjoyed the heroine's expression through music and the softness of the beast. The castle with all it's magic was enchanting in their own way. There is a depth of pain that has to be overcome and two hearts that are searching for healing. But that is what makes it even sweeter when they find it.

I would like to provide a trigger warning that this book does have a character dealing with the emotional trauma of sexual assault. I feel it was handled well and nothing is described in great detail. I would recommend this read for anyone who enjoys a good beauty and the beast story, with sweet and poignant lessons.

Reviews Posted: April 24, 2023
Goodreads
Storygraph

I thought this was a very interesting and creative way of retelling a classic fairytale. I felt that the author remained true to what the fairytale was saying but was still able to make it unique.

I think one of my favorite parts of the book is that the author explores Beauty’s relationship with her siblings a lot. Their dynamics were interesting to read about, and I liked how they propelled her story in different ways.

While much of this story resembles the original tale, I like how the author gave different motives for Beauty going to the Beast.

Even though I liked the changes the author made, there were still a few things that missed the mark for me. The Beast overall lacked the personality to me. Beauty had her own inner struggles that I thought were interesting to read about, but at times I wanted her to be more proactive in her life. Near the end, we get more of that, but the Beast never really comes into his own for me.

The writing was 50/50 for me. At times it felt too simple and choppy. And at other times, it was whimsy and beautiful.

Overall the author brings a classic fairytale to life but makes changes that set it apart from others. While Beauty shows great development in regard to her family, the romance feels lackluster, and the Beast feels like a background character. It was a fun and quick read, but I wish that there was a little more development in places.

Beauty, the youngest child of a once-wealthy merchant family, is running from her past--from the boy she thought she loved, who took from her forcefully when she was unwilling to give freely. When her father returns from the enchanted woods surrounding their tiny cottage with a stolen rose in hand and a tale of a vicious beast, Beauty enters the forest to pay his debt. She expects to die, not to find a cursed beast that challenges her to face her trauma head on.

BEAUTY REBORN is a relatively short Beauty & the Beast retelling that's approximately 200 pages. Written as though Beauty is telling the reader her own story, it tweaks the original tale and gives both Beauty and the Beast different motives and a different backstory for the predicament they find themselves in, yet it still holds on to the familiar story we all know. In truth, I found the book rather hard to rate. I feel very on the fence with this one. 2.5 stars.

I think why I feel so conflicted is that I enjoyed the fairy tale atmosphere but also disliked the flat characterization that can too often come hand in hand with that same fairy tale vibe. Beauty has felt as though she's lost herself since her assault; Beast is very gentle and understanding and mysterious. I don't feel like I have a capability to define them or any character arc that they might have experienced.

I was decently invested in these characters, but didn't truly feel that until I was nearing the end of the book--I wanted Beauty and Beast to have a happily ever after. At it's core, it's very much about Beauty processing the assault she experienced and choosing what the rest of her life will look like in the aftermath. I've sat on my feelings towards this book for a whole day and still don't quite know how I feel. I think this will definitely be a book that gets a mixed bag of reviews.

TW: Sexual assault (off page)

Posted to Goodreads on April 24, 2023.

Yes, this is a re-telling of the classic Beauty and the Beast but with some key differences. The biggest one being that Beauty is basically running TO the castle (albeit she does “officially” go to save her father) because she’s running AWAY from a personal trauma. The beast here is more of a furry balm for her soul than a terrifying monster.

While there’s not a lot of action (more towards the end), I enjoyed the slower introspective pace as I felt given the sensitivity of the subject matter (the trauma is mostly alluded to), I felt it should be a “quieter” book, if that makes sense. We are able to follow Beauty on her journey from a vivacious 18 year-old, to a broken, disillusioned victim and finally to a stronger, more confident woman on the other side.

There could have been more development on the Beast, but it’s a shorter book and as the title bears out, this was Beauty’s story.

My thanks to the author, NetGalley and Shadow Mountain Publishing for providing the free early arc of Beauty Reborn for review. The opinions are strictly my own.