Started reading: December 22nd 2017
Finished the book: December 25th 2017
Pages: 79
Genres: Fiction, Retelling
Published: April 24th 2017
Source: Got a digital copy from the author
Goodreads score: Not enough ratings
My score:
A book for all Beauty and the Beast fans! A contemporary retelling viewed through the eyes of a teenager. Sixteen year old Megan wants to be a doctor. When Megan volunteers at a residential home she meets Lady. Lady tells a fragmented and confusing story of a duke who never aged; his fate tied to the roses that grew in his garden. As Megan hears more of Lady’s tale she is intrigued to know whether the duke existed or if he is a figment of Lady’s imagination. As Megan embarks on unravelling the mystery of the beast a hidden family secret emerges... will it shatter her life forever?
My thoughts
This is a short book, so my review isn't going to be that long too. I liked it, I wasn't wow-ed, but the story wasn't bad either, just solid. If you like retellings you should read this book, you can finish it within 2 hours and read a decent, magical story while doing it 😊
Pros
- Decent plot: The plot is slowly building and I liked the final reveal. There is much more going on than meets the eye and Megan is going to have the biggest shock in her life... The plot was very well thought through and involves some harsh subjects that you didn't see coming.
- Feels magical: This is a retelling that actually takes place in the present day, but it feels very magical, with the pictures, roses, the setting and the way Lady is telling her story.
- What's real? I liked the fact that you don't really know what's real, since the nurses tell that Lady is mixing books up with her own life. Megan is trying to find the truth behind the stories, but to my opinion, you never really get a clear answer, you have to decide for yourself...
Cons
- Should've been longer: I read books that finish and then I WANT MORE. I want more from this book too, but it's not really a pro.. The book ends very abruptly, you get the plot thrown in your face and the book ends with maybe 3 more pages. There were so many things that could've been more detailed, since the plot was so good, but why not explore the feelings and questions that come with it? I wouldn't mind if this book was longer, I wanted more answers, the feelings more expressed and detailed. It was all very flat because it felt a bit rushed.
- Hopping around: One moment Megan's having a conversation with Lady and then *hop* she's back home. I didn't see a white line or anything, maybe it's because of the formatting but the different scenes are just glued together which had me confused more than once.
Overall
This is a retelling with a magical touch that has you figure out for yourself what you believe. Megan's life is thrown around 180 degrees and although I wanted more answers and feelings, the plot twist is good and I didn't see it coming.
You can finish this book quickly, so if you like a work of fiction with a sparkle of magic, you could easily read this within a day, it won't take that much time!
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