Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book. A gorgeous 4 star read book from me. What an exciting plot, vivid storytelling and relatable, rich characters. I could put this book down – absolutely loved it.

A sequel of sorts to Jade Linwood's Charming, Beast picks up close to where that book left off, with a lot of the same characters making an appearance in this story. It's a gender-swapping Beauty and the Beast that's funny, engaging, and light-hearted. I enjoyed this book quite a bit and finished it in a couple of days! Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

(4) I can’t lie. I am an absolute sucker for Beauty and the Beast retellings. I love them. I’ve read every type in every shape and form. And this one. This one was gorgeous.

With Shrek-like dry wit and humour, BEAST mixes fairy tales with surprisingly good European-inspired worldbuilding and pacing given the multiple characters and plots. The references were everything. As I haven’t read the first book in the series, I admittedly didn’t care as much for the side characters as much as I could have, but they still provided lovely comedic relief and added to the overall atmosphere, though it did make the pacing a bit odd.

I loved the relationship between Charming and the Beast, though I did wish there was more development between the two of them. I would have loved more exploration into Charming’s feelings, being a conman whose whole deal is pretending to be in love. I also would have loved more angst and pining on the Beast’s side. I do admit that these things would have been difficult to fit in with all the multiple layers of characters and plots, but still.

Overall, BEAST was a funny, multi-layered book that I would have no issue reading over and over again, given the references, light humour, and romance.

WOW THIS BOOK IS BRILLIANT. I loved it so much.
this story is engaging, whimsical and creative. it is a reimagining of beauty and the beast that has a clever gender-flipped on the characters.

this book is a delightful blend of classic fairytale characters, werewolves, bears and danger. even through the focus was on charming and the beast, the other character storylines added to the dynamic and creativity of the narrative, it pokes fun art thee traditional fairytale elements while honouring the themes of love, redemption and transformation. whiter you're here for the laughs, the magic or the romance this book delivers all fronts.

this book is very enjoyable.

This book is a continuation of Jade Linwood's first book, Charming, and features nearly all of the same characters with the addition of the Beast. It's a gender flipped version of Beauty and the Beast, which is what initially drew me into the book-- but it also clearly combines aspects of many different fairytales.

The story follows Prince Charming, who--during a tumultuous journey in the woods to meet with a demon--stumbles upon the magical manor belonging to the beast, a former lady afflicted by a curse.

The book is somewhat scattered and I found it hard to keep up with all the different POVS, and the story felt disjointed in places. There were some times where I truly couldn't follow what was happening with the "main romance" and all the different princesses.

The vibes were all over the place, but I did enjoy mostly enjoy the romance between Prince Charming and the beast - it was funny and endearing but the chemistry wasn't all there. The different princesses (who are reimaginings of Snow White, Rapunzel, etc) verged on cringey and overdone. I respect their modern and feminist characteristics, and it definitely worked for some of them, but for example having Rapunzel be called Dr. Rapunzel was perhaps a bit too clunky. "Beast" wasn't quite for me, but it's a cozy and humorous story that I think will appeal to many fantasy and romance readers.

Thank you so much to Rebellion and NetGalley for this ARC! 📚

I love a good retelling, but a gender swapped one is just so much more fun for this one! I loved the way everything was set up and familiar, yet so different.

Overall rating: 4/5 stars

“So, what’s the witch lost, and where is it?’ ‘Her brother. He’s in a place that isn’t exactly there.”

Jean-Marc Charming Arundel is on a deadline to pay to the demon who helped save his father. On his journey to meet him, he decides to take a shortcut through the woods, where he happens upon a sprawling manor house.

The house is charming and tends to his needs, but will not let him leave. He soon finds out the Mistress of the house has been cursed as a Beast, and that he and his two co-captives, Will and Hans, -brothers of the bear witch and the wolf leader- must figure out how to break the curse with only clues. Clues and something true and honest. Will one of them be able to break the curse before time runs out?

“Now I don’t know about anyone else, but personally, I’m going to investigate the cellar.” “You think there might be a clue?” Hans said. “I think there might be a very good Riesling.”

This book was an unexpected delight. It felt cozy like a warm hug, that way that fairytales often times do. Magical and wondrous and told in a story tale manner. But there was a quiet intelligence, strong plot and subplots, and an air of mystique as thick as the forest that ensnared me.

The different characters and stories we know and love were twisted and turned, though wonderfully recognizable, and then pulled together in ways I didn’t see coming. It felt as though Linwood weaved a stunning tapestry of every colour over a blank canvas.

“An honest word is better than a fancy word with no heart behind it.”

The gender bent Beauty and the Beast slant was a nice twist. I adore this fairytale and making the beast female kept the story from getting tired, made it something new. It was wonderful to see the three male suitors, the kind man, the smart one, and the charming (pretty?) one, and have no idea which one was going to be the one to fall for her.

“You think he should have a ‘normal’ life, because you miss yours,” she said. “Not everyone wants that.”

My favourite thing about this book was how the servants were written in. Instead of them actually being objects, or simply ceasing to exist, she made them invisible and noiseless. Absolute genius. Because Charming and the bachelors see objects like a candle moving around and assume they are magic or the house is, and you get that wonderful magic feeling, and it is later revealed that they were there all the time, silently working. A real explanation for the magic that is just as magnificent.

“But the magic surrounding this place is stronger, too—and wilder. Less inclined to be controlled.”

I’m half German so I loved all of the German words and names strewn throughout. Especially Wohlabendberg and Johannes and Wilhelm.

“Knowledge was almost always useful. Sometimes dangerous, yes, but almost always useful.”

As I read this book, I disappeared into the magical forest with its cottages and bears and wolves. I could taste the magic. I didn’t want to leave. After all, who wouldn’t love to be locked up in a fairy cottage with nothing to do but solve the mystery of love?

“We are more than the stories that are told about us,” Marie Blanche said. “And less, too.”

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this book!!

What a good book!! This one had me hooked from page one! I could t put it down. I loved the writing style of this book. I lived the characters and they had great chemistry.

3.5 stars

Jade Linwood’s BEAST is Book 2 in her CHARMING series.

If you are a “Disney adult” or someone who enjoys the classic fairytales - check this series out! This whacky spin on the classics was a fun read that made me laugh quite a bit. I enjoyed that the “Beast” was a woman in this version and I enjoyed the spin-off stories especially with Cassia the Cat, Dr. Rapunzel, and stinky Roland.

However, this book was sort of all over the place with all the different stories on simultaneously and the multiple POVs. Sometimes I found myself confused as to what the heck was going on, but the book is funny enough to make up for its shortcomings.

Thank you so much to NetGalley & Rebellion for e-mailing me this ARC to read in exchange for my honest review! I enjoy reading Jade Linwood and hope to continue to read what she creates.

Beast by Jade Linwood
3/5 stars

This book followed Prince Charming, but does include different POVs for multiple characters. Because of this, and maybe even because I did not read the first book in the series, I found it confusing and a little messy in the writing style. The characters and plot felt slightly disjointed at times. Overall the book was pleasant and readable, but just lacked the extra OOMPH that would have really put it over the edge. I will mention though that the Beast and Charming story arc was well done. I thought they were approachable as a new reader to this series and that they were the only characters with any sort of chemistry.

Thank you Rebellion Publishing and NetGalley for providing me an e-arc in exchange for an honest review. My review is my own and not influenced by others.

Unexpectedly, I received the invitation from Rebellion Publishing to read this e-arc because I loved Chaming by the same author.

We follow Prince Charming, who has an appointment with a demon to keep. Traveling through woodland and haunted by wolves and bears, he flees towards a beautiful mansion where he finds a noblewomand who transformed in a fearsome beast by a curse.

Because I loved Charming by the same author, I expected to like this book as well but this book didn’t work out for me. The Disney princesses in this book had different features than their original stories and that didn’t work for me, I found it even annoying. Besides that, I found it messy and felt no chemistry with the characters or the story.

I loved the previous book so wasn't surprised when I flew through this, great retelling, I love this authors writing style I can't wait to read more, it felt fresh for a retelling which is rare these days!

I loved this retelling of beauty and the beast! it was very well thought out and the author did great putting their own spin on things.

The story is an engaging, whimsical, and creative reimagining of Beauty and the Beast that has a clever gender-flipped on the characters. "Charming" is a suave conman as the self-proclaimed Prince Charming. He has left a wake of broken hearts and empty coffers on his trail. He is on his way to break a curse when he stumbles into a mysterious mansion in the dense magical woods. To his surprise, the magical house won't let him leave or a couple of other men. It is like they are on a forced episode of The Bachelorette, except this bachelorette has claws.

It was a delightful blend of classic fairytale characters, werewolves, bears, and danger. Even though the focus was on Charming and the Beast, the other character storylines added to the dynamic and creativity of the narrative. It pokes fun at the traditional fairytale elements while honoring the themes of love, redemption, and transformation. Whether you're here for the laughs, the magic, or the romance, this book delivers on all fronts.
It's a little predictable, but it adds enjoyment through a new twists on our beloved tropes with charm.

I didn't realize this wasn't a stand alone when I requested however the story itself was good! I loved that it followed with the original beauty and beast story line. If you like retelling I would recommend this one

*3.5 rounded up to 4 stars

I initially approached this book under the impression that it was a standalone set in the same world as the first installment, so the array of characters was somewhat confusing at first. Given this was my introduction to them, I wonder if I would have felt as sympathetic toward Charming if I had directly witnessed his previous scheming in the first book.

That said, I appreciated watching Charming confront the consequences of his actions and begin to grow as a person, particularly through his connection with Beast. The plot seemed to drive the story more than the relationships, leaving some details underdeveloped.

I appreciated seeing glimpses of the Princesses beginning to rebuild and find happiness after their struggles, which added a hopeful undertone. I’m intrigued enough to continue the series, particularly to see how things unfold with Mephistopheles.

Beast by Jade Linwood is a retelling and merge of several childhood fairytales. I loved that Beast is the woman this time and Prince Charming is the one who has to break the spell.

Ms. Linwood uses humor and our love of childhood tales to weave magic with this story. What's not to love about required reading around a fireplace, gifts of roses, and breaking curses?

I'm off to read the first book in this series, Charming.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own.

I rated this book 5 stars because it's really good. Beast by Jade Linwood is such a good story. Has an amazing plot, the characters are fabulous and the storyline is immaculate.

An amazing sequel to the magical book Charming! This time, it involved the stories of Beauty and the Beast, Little Red Riding Hood, Goldilocks, and Hansel and Gratel to an extent.

I love the way Jade Linwood weaves all these fairy tales together, inter mingling characters into a sensible plot. I enjoyed the how all threads are connected and the way her characters inter acted with one another.

This is by far one of the best fantasies I've read so far this year.

The open ending kinda made me want more of this world. I really hope there is a sequel. I would love to see everything and everyone finally at peace, clearing all their previous misunderstandings and strengthening their bonds.

A good story, I especially enjoyed the fact that this was a turnaround on the original beauty and the beast traditional story