First, of all, I want to say that I normally don't read fanfictions but being the avid lover of Disney's Beauty and the Beast (Not the horrendous 2017 version) I felt compelled to pick this up. In the beginning, this started out like the original movie then slowly took a turn when it talked about Belle's mother and what she was and the creatures that were also around her parents. It leaves you with a cliffhanger for you don't know what happened to the mother and then you arrive with Belle quickly at the enchanted castle. Then some non-canon events happen that turn the tale as old as time on its head and now I continued reading to figure out how this event will play out for my favorite couple in the Disney universe. I will tell you quickly without any spoilers that this book had a natural line toward the climax then fell as straight as a vertical line can be with the falling action (albeit with some weird jagged rocks that seem to come out of nowhere). My theory is that either the writer wrote the last part first or rushed the last part due to deadlines.
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PROS
1) The writing for Belle's mother, Rosalind, was perfect. For she was a powerful enchantress but the narrative made a point to show you that she wasn't the perfect mother that Belle envisioned.
2) I like the addition of explaining the key objects that were in the original (roses, the mirror, etc) how they were all direct plot points that connected to Rosalind.
3) The bookseller also is a wizard in the story as well (even though I don't know of what) I always felt that the bookseller deserved more of a role and in this book he definitely got it.
4) The insane asylum part was so cool even though it slapped you in the face (which I think was the intention), also the head of the asylum was creepy and perfectly written
5) LeFou has an added dimension with his aunt who was sent and tortured at the asylum and now she has lost all memory of her nephew
6) Mrs. Potts gets more of a back story about her husband and how he died, this also lets you peek into Beast's childhood.
7) Belle has the same spirit she has in the movie (give or take some parts for the last bit, as I said, it gets rocky)

CONS
1) Beast NEVER gets a name but other non-important characters get full names even his dead parents get full names.
2) Beast will always be a beast but he will never revert back to animal-Beast for he has "gained back his human soul" or some bullcrap
3) Gaston has a moment of saving grace when he kills the head of the asylum because he was outraged by how LeFou's aunt was treated but then goes back to BOOKS ARE BAD BOOKS ARE STUPID.
4) Beast asks for Rosalind to change back the whole castle instead of him for they were innocent parties. Yes, a noble action for sure. But Rosalind says she has VERY LITTLE magic and can only change Beast but turns around and reverts THE WHOLE CASTLE to human form.
5) Belle and Beast's relationship seemed a bit forced. They had some sweet moments but I just wasn't buying it.
6) LeFou should've had more attention for his loss of his aunt wrenched my heart but the author was quickly on about other things.
7) The ending is open-ended but makes you believe that Belle and Beast (WHO IS NOT HUMAN) will be finding the remaining wizards and will take them to the castle for safety. And not just the country, by the way, THE WHOLE ENTIRE WORLD. The castle is big but not that big.
8) Beast is supposed to be short fused but in this book, it seemed to make him lose his mind at the SMALLEST of things.
9) Belle being the bookworm she is I would believe that she would prefer the most thought-provoking reads but no, her favorite story is Jack and the Beanstalk, the most generic story ever. And she also quotes Beowulf A LOT.

My final thoughts are that I would keep the first 3/4 of the story but I would rewrite the final quarter at least to where Beast changes back to a human when Belle and Beast officially declare their love for each other.

As Old as Time - Likewise Book Reviews

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