Tales of the Five Hundred Kingdoms - Book 6 - Beauty and the Werewolf

This tale is a mixture of 'Little Red Riding Hood' and 'Beauty and the Beast' with a little 'Cinderella' thrown in to make the stew a bit chunkier. Author, Mercedes Lackey adds lots of syrup, and cozy but inconsequential details to what were originally scary children's stories. In "Beauty and the Werewolf," the spunky step-daughter who runs her father's household, including a hypochondriac step-mother and two bubble-headed step-sisters, goes to visit Grandma in the woods, wearing her father's red riding hood. On the way home, she is attacked and bitten by a werewolf.

Bella, the spunky step-sister manages to hobble home with a bite on her ankle, but the King orders her to be locked up in the castle with the werewolf for three months, to see if she is going to turn into a werewolf herself. Okay, now we get the 'Beauty and the Beast' part. The werewolf turns out to be an exceptionally apologetic duke, who is only a werewolf three nights a month when the moon is full. The rest of the time he is a wizard, who is working hard to figure out how to get out from under his werewolf curse. Bella immediately reorganizes his castle full of invisible servants, corrects the duke's diet, and starts making suggestions as to how Duke Sebastian can figure out who cursed him. She really is a take-over kind of gal.

In fact, this book is filled with managing women, including a fairy godmother, who is practically running the kingdom, and Grandma (the one in the woods), who is really a witch.

About two hundred pages into the book, a new plot element is divulged--one that is borrowed directly from Terry Pratchett's "Witches Abroad." It didn't seem to be particularly necessary, except for adding to Bella's angst. My other minor complaint about this book is that it was too easy to spot the villain who cursed the Duke.

If you're looking for a fairy tale with strong female characters, "Beauty and the Werewolf" certainly delivers, although I never felt that Bella was really in any danger that she couldn't manage her way out of.

Beauty and the Werewolf
by Mercedes Lackey

Bella was a normal girl. Though, the Tradition would say she should be placed in some sort of Cinderella like situation. With a step mother, two step sisters, and a father that works way too much. Donning her red cloak, she heads into the forest with treats for the Granny that works out there. Making potions, politices, and a bit of magic. But, on the way back, something she doesn't expect happens. The beast from the forest comes out and attacks her. A wolf no less! Barely escaping with a bite, and with her life, she heads back home.

Only to be woken the next morning by the King's men. Dragging her off to live with the Duke in his manor for three months. To make sure that the werewolf curse hasn't transfered to her. And now, stuck there, Bella must figure out a place in the manor, not to mention, how to pass three months alone.

I'm a massive Beauty and the Beast fan. It's my favorite story of all time. But this, was a terrible telling of a book that I have always loved. Of a story that I cherish. It is more of a mix of Little Red Riding Hood and Beauty and the Beast too. But, the thing that I didn't like about the book mostly were the characters.

Bella was a very flat, woman. She was somehow super smart and always asked the right questions. She never fit in before, because she's such a different person. Preferring normal dresses to the fancier ones that most women prefer. Sebastian, the Duke was the worst of them all. He was shy, bumbling, and had no real.. umph. He was flat and barely there. In fact, if anyone asked me who the two main characters in the novel were it would be Bella and Erik the Gameskeeper.

I actually was torn as to who the author was going to chose for the love interest. You spent a great deal more time with Erik than you did with Sebastian. Erik stood out in many more ways than Sebastian and he was the only one that seemed to have any dimension. That was killed later, but at least he had some for a while.

It seemed that the story made no sense. there was NO reason for these two people to fall in love. There was nothing that built up to it. There was nothing that started to develop. It was like 'oh were getting close to the end of the book we need to make this love thing happen' kind of deal. Which I thought was a terrible way to do a love story. Because, suddenly Bella is spouting all kinds of things about 'I love you' but in the same breath, it doesn't make sense because WHAT does she love? There is nothing TO love because they never really DID anything together.

I'm very upset that this book was written like it was. I had hoped for more because Mercedes Lackey is one of my favorite authors, but this book, is probably one of my least favorite ever.

1.5 stars.

Like her "Elemental Masters" novels, Lackey's "Tales of the 500 Kingdoms" seem to be readable in any order or none; this is the seventh she's written, but the first I had read, and I found I was able to figure out the background without undue difficulty. Isabella Beauchamp, known as Bella, is the daughter of a successful merchant, the chatelaine of her father's home (since her stepmother is, or at least claims to be, an invalid), and something of a maverick who, when we first meet her, has managed to persuade her younger twin stepsisters, Pearl and Amber, to go with her to a dance at the Wool Guild Hall--"so declasse!" But her life is turned completely around when, on her way back from a visit to Granny, the local herb-woman and reputed witch, she's attacked by a wolf. Because it isn't a wolf at all: it's the young Duke Sebastian, who--although there's not a trace of were in his ancestry--is prone to changing form when the moon is full. Willy-nilly, Bella now finds herself confined to Sebastian's manor by order of the King, who's afraid she may turn into a werewolf too. And she learns that her comfortable upper-class world doesn't work at all the way she thought it did. But if Sebastian has no wereblood, his transformations must be the result of a curse, and Bella, with Granny's support, resolves to help him find a way to break it. With recognizable elements of "Cinderella," "Little Red Riding Hood," and, of course, "Beauty and the Beast," this is a fascinating and thoroughly enjoyable fantasy with an engaging heroine.

I've read most of the Five Hundred Kingdoms series, but I'm not exactly a fan. I pick up each new one as I see it because the loyalty Mercedes Lackey inspired in me in my teens is hard to shake. I find Ms. Lackey's prose engaging even when I want to strangle her characters or take a hatchet to the soapbox they're standing on, but this may be the last of her Luna books for me.

There are a lot of problems here. The lesser ones (a padded story, the soapboxes, grammatical errors) have been endemic to Lackey for awhile now and shouldn't be more troubling here than elsewhere. Worse is that Lackey already retold this fairy tale and did a much better job of it in _Fire Rose_. If you've read that book, you know how this one will go--although you could probably guess within three chapters either way. In _Fire Rose_ the romantic lead was a flawed man, the heroine a sympathetic figure, the setting more distanced from the traditional and familiar, and the stakes more compelling. I liked Sebastian, but he's an innocent victim and less interesting for it than Jason Cameron, whose condition was of his own making. As for Bella--

Ugh, Bella. Give me Disney's Belle, Robin McKinley's Beauty, or Lackey's own Rose Hawkins any day, please, over this arrogant, bossy, self-important character. This quote sums her up for me: "[...] she might as well order him about while he was feeling guilty enough to listen and go along with her." She won't shut up in her mind or her speech about how much she's owed for something that wasn't Sebastian's fault. She finds it appropriate to order around Sebastian's servants and take control of his household. She condemns snide comments and generalities about women, which would be reasonable if she didn't make her own snide generalities about men or hold women who aren't like herself in such contempt. By the midway point of the book I wished Sebastian would choose solitude over her company. Other reviewers have said, and I agree, that he and Bella have no chemistry anyway.

The book picks up for awhile in the latter third and I considered moving it up to three stars on the strength of some of the scenes there, but the predictable ending disappointed me. Besides, even though I enjoyed those scenes, I'm not sure what point they served. I would rather have read about Bella developing certain talents that ended up critical to the finale but were established almost entirely off-camera.

Not only has this story been done better by other writers, but it's been done better by Lackey--with an intelligent, sensitive heroine who managed to be neither a damsel in distress nor egocentric! Seek out _Fire Rose_ if you want to see Lackey's take on Beauty and the Beast. Me, I'm going on a sabbatical from the Kingdoms.

I love fairytales! They are my favorite kind of fantasy stories and Mercedes Lackey's 5oo Kingdoms series takes the classic fairytales and gives them a twist. The most recent in the series is called Beauty and the Werewolf; it is obviously a twist on Beauty and the Beast but also Little Red Riding Hood. Bella, a very headstrong woman (much like Belle), dons her red cloak to go visit Granny in the forest when she is attacked and bitten by a werewolf. She must then be taken to Duke Sebastion's house to discover if she too will become a werewolf. There is a bit of mystery to the novel because it is unknown how Sebastion became a wolf, so no one has a clue of how this will affect Bella.

Most of Lackey's works are romance as well as fantasy. The romance in this novel was rather subtle until the end. The love story was rather predictable and ended mostly how I imagined but there was a point that I thought the author would surprise me. I figured Bella would end up with the Duke but for a while the author led me to believe that just maybe, she would end up with Sebastion's gamekeeper Eric. Bella discovered that she was being pushed by the Tradition (read Lackey's other books to understand what it is) and tries to counteract it but everything she does seems to bring her closer to Eric and further from the Duke. I loved that it seemed Lackey was going to surprise me but in the end I was glad Bella did not end up with Eric. Other reviewers said they were not fooled but I was for a short bit.

The ending was my favorite. I love happy endings and this one was full of hilarity. I could not stop laughing. Lackey gave another masterpiece.

In this book Mercedes Lackey has joined Red Riding Hood with Beauty and the Beast. I jumped into this book without reading the others before but I had no trouble catching on. When you first start the book the connection to Red Riding Hood is obvious...maybe a little too much but the title told you that already. I was a little surprised by how she ended up at the mansion (not castle). Not your basic Beauty and Beast intro. How would you feel if someone bit you on first introductions?

I tend to agree with those who find Bella bossy and controling. She is though I don't think Sebastian cared much. She seemed to realize how controling she was near the end so that helps to redeem her. I was a little bored by the whole female being a hero at the end thing. I don't mind it but seeing as there were only her and two other guys in this story who got real story time I had to give a little eye roll at that point. Can't there be a male hero without the women almost next to overshading the men? Again, I don't mind women being the heroes but in this one I wanted to see Sebastian as the hero like in the Disney Beauty and the Beast. I was also dissapointed by the curse happening every night. I found that a little overdone.

In general I did enjoy the book and I don't regret reading it. I just found some parts predictable and a little over used. Maybe this isn't one of her best books but it could have been worse.

I do like this book. Bella is strong and unexpected. Plus I did like that it didn't even lead into Tradition until later. I couldn't believe that no one caught on to who the villain was until so late... despite that, of all the Tales of the 500 Kingdoms series, I would rate this in the top three. It was a really quick read, very light, but decently constructed -- and Lackey had a good editor on this one, in case you were worried. Worth reading if you are looking for a light fantasy series to breeze through.

Sixth in the Tale of the Five Hundred Kingdoms fairy tale series. The basic tale here is based on Beauty and the Beast with Bella as the merchant-class beauty and Duke Sebastian as the fantastic beast.

My Take
It's a combination of fairy tales with a bit of Red Riding Hood--the threat of the wolf is rather obvious!; Cinderella comes to mind with the "wicked" stepmother and the two stepsisters but the only toil Bella engages in is managing the house; the primary theme is of Beauty and the Beast with a touch of Snow White.

I do like Bella. She stands up for herself while having compassion for others. The duke was unexpected with his retiring nature; the consideration was expected. Of course, I also enjoyed the organizing and mucking about in the still room that helps Bella pass the time.

Lackey has created a lovely twist for this series with her interpretation of Tradition. I just love how she's encapsulated the various fairy tales into the Tradition's paths. Pulling the "possibilities" into the story, makes one aware of the standard expectations and then Lackey "twists" it and off we go on yet another--unexpectedly expected--path.

I do recommend this series to anyone who enjoys fairy tales--you'll certainly recognize aspects of Disney's interpretation of Beauty and the Beast!

The Story
It's the naughty Bella who has coaxed her stepsisters to sneak into the Wool Guild Ball distracting their mother with forgotten treasures she has found in her father's warehouse. In a cheerful mind the next day, Bella fulfills her duties and decides to tramp into the forest to visit with Granny and as soon as the kitchen staff realizes her destination, they put all sorts of special treats in Bella's basket as Bella herself swirls herself into her father's old red, hooded riding cloak--well, Bella has no desire to be mistaken for a deer!

It's on this trek that she encounters Eric who attempts to force himself upon her but Bella, secure in her father's status, gives it right back to him causing him to back off. But, it's that exchange that causes her doom. Late that afternoon as Bella is hiking back to town, a hungry wolf attacks and even though Bella manages to beat him off, it still manages to get its teeth into her foot.

Bella manages to get home only to be dragged from her bed in the morning by order of the King's Guard to be taken from her home and imprisoned at the ducal manor for the next three months.

An imprisonment that will prove to be quite eye-opening.

The Characters
Isabella "Bella" Beauchamps is the oldest daughter in the Beauchamps house with the requisite stepmother and twin stepsisters, Amber and Pearl. The worst that can be said of the situation is that the stepmother, Genevieve, is concerned about appearance and status and enjoys her "sickbed" status while leaving household management in Bella's hands. The stepsisters are mindless and quite content to follow their mother's lead but they also like Bella. Henri Beauchamps is Bella's father and a well-to-do merchant trader with the ear of the king.

Granny is a Herb Woman and a wisewoman who tends to the health of those who can't afford a doctor. She lives out in the forest in her tiny cottage. Godmother Elena cares for this kingdom and explains the Tradition to Bella. The Mirror Servant is the green face in Godmother Elena's mirror. While he is very useful in screening callers for the godmother, he's very handy at research as well.

Duke Sebastian suffers from a curse which the King does not want anyone to know about. So Sebastian chooses to immerse himself in his studies in his country manor and leave the management of his estate to Eric.

Eric von Teller is the bastard son of the late duke and now works for Sebastian as his Woodsman and Guardian--someone must ensure that Sebastian is locked up for the three days of the month he turns beast! Eric has a terrible reputation as a womanizer and takes a firm stance on poachers in his Grace's forests. Abel is Bella's alter ego as she dresses up in Sebastian's hand-me-downs and apprentices herself to Eric learning woodcraft and how to use a crossbow.

The servants at the Manor are all spirits and Bella has the happy thought of asking them all to tie a token on a sleeve so she, Sebastian, and Eric will know where and if they are present. The outdoor workers wear bunches of leaves while the indoor servants wear scarves: Sapphire becomes her ladysmaid and Verte seems to be the steward. The kitchen staff incorporate herbs onto their armbands with Thyme the head chef.

The Cover
In spite of the red of Bella's hooded cloak, the cover is cold with its wintry chill as the wolf howls on his rocky perch, the castle in the background and a full moon overhead. The brown-haired Bella herself is quite voluptuous in her red flowing skirt, her cream chemise parted to expose the breasts almost overflowing the black corset she wears.

An interesting use of font-size and color in displaying the author's name in its huge size and metallic silver while the white title is so much smaller but in greater contrast against the deep red-orange background. The essentials of the title are correct for, at heart, it is a tale of Beauty and the Werewolf.

The first thing a potential buyer of this book should know is that it is more of a Romantic fiction with a fantasy side than a Fantasy novel with a romantic side. If you are looking for something to softly poke you towards new levels of enlightenment or aquatint you with a new way of thinking, this is not the book for you. However, if you are looking for good old fashioned entertainment, or the warm feeling at the end of a lovely story, then you will get exactly what you are looking for. It is very readable and serves as a wonderful diversion. I recommend the ebook version, as this is, in my opinion, a one time read, and because it isn't exactly something that you would want to take a prominent place on you bookshelf. Also, it is a quick read, it only took me about 4-5 hours to read, so your eyes won't get tired like they do when reading more lengthy books on your computer or device.

The premise of the book is hugely enjoyable, as well as unique. (Well, was unique. I do believe Mercedes Lackey was one of the first to come up with the fairy tale improvement story, although it is now common in books and on TV.) The idea is, the characters live in a land where people are pushed into the fates foretold by tales and legends by a strange force. This was explained fully in this book in a way it hasn't been in the other Tales of the Five Hundred Kingdoms, which makes it stand out as one of the best of the series. You learn about the world along with Bella, the protagonist, and are curious as she is. This is the most graceful part of the writing, and something I much enjoyed.

Now, on to the actual plot. There are three main characters, each of them likable and fairly well developed. My biggest complaint is that the book is rather jumpy as far as the development of the characters. Bella goes from having a great degree of disdain for her stepmother to a totally different perspective, and her change in opinion is not believable outlined, so it seems to come out of thin air. This is the same her suddenly developed romantic feelings for. . .well, guess who, for I won't spoil it. This again happens with the villain of the story, who seems to have some sort of mental health problem with his evil-good mood swings. There is not enough feeling of foreboding. He is cruel, and then he is likable, and then he is a rake, and then he is gone, and then he is mega-evil. His reasons for being evil are easy to understand, but should have been developed earlier in the story.

All in all, despite some lacks, I consider this worth the time and money. The world created is enchanting and enjoyable, as well as imperfect and realistic. If you like Fairy tales, fantasy, and romance, you will love this book.

I received an ecopy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

First off I have to say that I absolutely adore Merecedes Lackey and I jumped at the chance to read this book! It's definitely different for me because I haven't read any of the Five Hundred Kingdoms books before, but I still really enjoyed it. I wasn't blown away like I have been by some of Ms. Lackey's other books, but I did have a good time reading it!

Bella has a step-mother (not evil, just vain and kind of lazy), 2 step-sisters (again, not evil) and dons a red riding hood to take a basket of goodies to visit old Granny's house in the woods. There she is bitten by a wolf, and her whole world is turned upside down!

From Goodreads: "But on the way home she's attacked by a wolf--who turns out to be a cursed nobleman! Secluded in his castle, Bella is torn between her family and this strange man who creates marvelous inventions and makes her laugh--when he isn't howling at the moon."

She is taken by the King's men to said secluded castle, where she is to stay for three moons to make sure she's not going to change into a werewolf herself. While there, she learns a good many things, including the fact that there is something called The Tradition, which is basically the world's way of trying to force people into following the path that characters follow in fairy tales. Once she learns of this, from the Godmother no less, she is determined not to be manipulated into following a path not of her choosing.

I enjoyed the flow of the story, the characters, and Bella's willful nature - she refuses to follow tradition and knows her own mind. She's not a scared little girl who will just do what she's told. She's a very strong woman, and it was a pleasure to watch her grow as the story unfolded. I really liked Duke Sebastian, too - kind of an absent minded professor instead of your usual tall, dark, strong hero. Watching him come out of his shell was really fun to watch, too.

All in all, this was a fun book to read, and I'm definitely going to go back and read the first five books in the Five Hundred Kingdoms series:D

Beauty and the Werewolf (2011) is the sixth Fantasy novel in the Five Hundred Kingdoms series, following The Sleeping Beauty. The initial work in this sequence is The Fairy Godmother.

In the previous volume, Rosa was abducted and taken to a modified dwarf house. Siegfried was awaken by a kitten and told about the kidnapping. Lily awakened the castle and prepared horses for the heroes.

Siegfried and Leopold rode out of the castle in pursuit. Siegfried's animal friends kept them on the right path. The bear and wolf helped the heroes cross the Dragon's Teeth spell and the unicorn and firebird tunneled through the thorns.

In this novel, Isabella Beauchamps is the twenty-one year old daughter of Henri Beauchamps, a Master Trader. Bella's mother died when she was ten and she has been mistress of the household ever since.

Genevieve is Bella's stepmother. She is rather vain, hypochondriacal and a gossip. She has seventeen years old twin daughters, Amber and Pearl.

Sebastian is the Duke of Redbuck, a minor duchy. He is slightly older than Bella and hasn't been attending court very much recently.

Eric is the Gameskeeper of Redbuck Duchy. He is also the illegitimate son of the former Duke and hence is Sebastian's half-brother.

Granny is a Herb Witch. She provides herbal and magical services for the poor within the city and its environs. Bella has known the local Granny for years and has made many trips to Granny's Cottage.

Elena is the Godmother for the local kingdom and other realms. She has regular contacts with the king and Granny.

In this story, Bella takes Amber and Pearl to the Wool Guild dance. The twins are rather reluctant to be seen at the affair, but it is a masked ball. Once she gets them inside, they are amazed and delighted.

During the ball, Eric makes a pass at Bella. She slams an elbow into his stomach and stomps his foot. The man doesn't bother her for the rest of the ball.

Bella and the twins leave the ball early. At the gate, Bella hands each twin a basket with goods from the family warehouse. Then they go into the house and tell Genevieve about the long and dusty search for treasures.

Bella has another basket for Genevieve, with much more expensive goods than the twins were given. Bella knows how to divert any suspicions that Genevieve might have about the outing. Everybody goes to bed with happy thoughts.

The next morning, Bella gets up at her usual early hour and updates the accounts. She also approves menus for the day, unlocks the wine cellar, admonishes the boy who was careless in cleaning a fireplace and generally managed the household. Then she went to visit Granny.

Bella fills a basket with food and wine and then goes to the city gate leading to Granny's Cottage. After walking a long way, she is told to halt by Eric. He suspects her of poaching on the Duke's land and orders her to display the contents of the basket.

Bella is angry and lashes Eric with her tongue. She informs him that she is the daughter of Henri Beauchamps. Then she orders him to go away.

Bella is still angry when she reaches the cottage. She tells Granny what happened at the ball and on the trail. She considers reporting this offensive behavior to the King's Sheriff, but Granny suggests a campaign of social ridicule.

It is dark after the extended visit, but Bella sets off for home anyway. Then she hears a lone wolf howling. It seems to be coming nearer. Bella panics and runs away from the wolf.

Finally, she calms down enough to find a makeshift club and turns to defend herself. The wolf leaps at her and she jumps aside so that it rams into a tree trunk. Bella runs some more and finds a small nook in some rocks.

She holds the wolf sway with the club, but finally it bites the club. She tries to pry the club out of the wolf's mouth by twisting and turning it. The wolf lets go of the club and bites her leg.

Bella screams and tells the wolf to let her alone. The wolf backs off with a puzzled look and eventually runs off. Bella hobbles back to her house and gets one of her stepmother's doctors to treat the wound. He tells her that he must report the matter to the Sheriff.

Bella goes upstairs and prepares for sleep. She is awakened by the sound of heavy boots on the stairs and somebody issuing orders. She opens the door to see a stranger dressed in the King's livery.

The officer barked questions at her and orders her to prepare for a move to other quarters. Her servants pack two trunks and take them downstairs. The soldiers load them on a coach and put Bella inside it.

Bella is taken out of the city to a formidable looking manor in the forest. The owner welcomes her and introduces himself as Sebastian. He tells her that she will be staying at Redbuck Manor and that he was the one who bit her.

Bella and her trunks are installed in a pleasant room. She is shown the way by an invisible servant with a candlestick. Later, Sebastian explains how he became a werewolf and why the king is so worried about her also becoming one.

Bella realizes that the king has a problem, but she insists on learning more about her situation. Her first priority is to communicate with her father. She is given a mirror that shows her father and others, but she can neither talk nor hear through the mirror.

Bella uses the mirror to look for Elena. A Mirror Spirit answers her call and, after a slight delay, brings Elena to the mirror. Bella is told more about Sebastian becoming a werewolf. No one knows why he became a werewolf or how infectious his bites are.

This tale has the Tradition confused about Bella. It had been trying, in a minor war, to force Genevieve into an evil stepmother role, but Bella had gently sidetracked that possibility. The Tradition doesn't seem to have had anything to do with Sebastian becoming a werewolf, but now it is fully involved in her situation.

This story is probably based on Beauty and the Beast, but has hints of Little Red Riding Hood and Cinderella. As with the previous novels in this series, the plot and characters differ significantly from the original story. Unlike most of these novels, the current heroine is a person without much magical talent at the start of the story.

The next installment in this series has not yet been announced on the store. Hopefully it will be out in a year or less.

Highly recommended for Lackey fans and for anyone else who enjoys tales of the Five Hundred Kingdoms, magical curses, and practical young women. Read and enjoy!

-Arthur W. Jordin

Though she's unaware of it, Bella Beauchamps' entire life has been guided by a Traditional Force that rules the lives of the inhabitants of the Five Hundred Kingdoms. It's cast her into the role of stepdaughter and sister to two flighty stepsisters. Luckily for her, Bella has a logical head on her shoulders and has proudly used her situation to good rather than allowing the Tradition to lead her - and her family - down an unhappy path. Until now, that is. After a visit into the forest to visit the village Granny, Bella is attacked by a werewolf and later finds herself prisoner at his castle until she proves that she, too, will not be changing at every new moon. Angry at her situation and at the King and Godmother that have allowed it to happen, she initially responds like a spoiled child and completely ignores the fact that her host, Duke Sebastian, has suffered the isolation for the years in which he's been under his terrible curse. When she finally looks beyond herself, though, she learns to appreciate Sebastian as well as his burly Gamekeeper and bastard half-brother Eric. As she does, she recognizes skills she never knew she had, including an interesting knack for handling invisible servants and for brewing potions. She might even have a touch of magical ability, too! As the days slowly pass, she, Sebastian and Eric form an unlikely bond as they search for clues to breaking the curse and freeing Sebastian to live a normal life once again. Will they succeed or will the evil force that created Sebastian's beastly alter ego destroy them all completely?

This was certainly one of the better Five Hundred Kingdoms novels, though I wouldn't suggest it for an introduction, as the author assumes a knowledge about the basic principles of the series including Godmothers and the Tradition. I loved the fact that the "villain" introduced at the beginning of the story transforms into a most likable character and found myself torn between him and Sebastian as choices for winning Bella's heart. In essence, that's an example of why this book is so good. The character development is first rate and the reader can easily become absorbed with their situations and relate to their actions. Too, I liked that the romantic sub-plot of the book was just that: a sub-plot. Lackey focuses much more on Bella's character and her internal battle against not only the Tradition but also against her own selfish nature. She's a self-aware, intelligent heroine that I admired very much. All in all, a superb read. Not that I expected anything less from Mercedes Lackey!

I've loved every one of the 500 Kingdoms stories, and this one is no exception. It's a great twist of the Beauty and the Beast story, only the "Beast" is a werewolf who bites Isabella. Actually, it's a combination between Beauty and the Beast and Cinderella, in that "Beauty" has a stepmother and two stepsisters. Like with the other books in this series, Mercedes Lackey weaves the stories together in one beautifully written whole.

There's enough backstory to make me happy, with Isabella spending time searching her father's warehouse for goodies, and bringing home trinkets for her stepmother. Isabella is described as a very motivated and very intelligent young lady. From the ease at which she runs her household, to her response to being bitten by the Beast, we're presented with a picture of a very strong character.

I loved all of the invisible servants - and the twist at the end that explains the "smart" servants is absolutely brilliant and tied in well with the rest of the book.

I honestly can't wait to see what their future is like, although the ending was a bit too "The Fire Rose" for my taste. (I was also disappointed at the end of The Fairy Godmother - it was just a repeat of Firebird, but eh, I can't complain too much!) I hope that Isabella and Sebastian are involved in future 500 Kingdom stories.

Locked as I have been into the Valdemar universe, Mercedes Lackey's Five Hundred Kingdom's series is far more enjoyable than I originally anticipated. I guess as writers develop and explore new avenues their fans must join them--or leave. I chose to stay.
It seems that every time I turn around there's a new movie, book or television show that's centered on Grimm's story of Little Red Riding Hood where surprise the wolf is no mere wolf but a Were. Yes and the cover seemed to set that up. So, I wondered!
After reading Beauty and the Werewolf I wondered no more. Lackey's insightful development of the Little Red Riding Hood--and Cinderella (Bella) and Beauty (of the Beast variety), archetype or rather archetypes, is an excellent read. The characters are strong and believable yet the story retains its fairytale/fantasy essence.
Isabella Beauchamp is cast in the role of Beauty/Little Red Riding Hood--. She is also the eldest daughter of a wealthy merchant, with a stepmother and two stepsisters. Of course no archetypal fairy story would be complete without a duke who's a wizard, an bastard son, a Granny and the ever present Godmother (plus magic mirrors and commanding Kings). Let's not forget the Beast and the Wolf., or rather the Beastly Wolf. With all this raw material `TheTradition' has plenty of `grist for the mill' to intervene in if allowed.
Isabella becomes aware of `The Tradition' at the same time as her own powers awaken, and the readers explores with her the influence and possible ramifications of `The Tradition' upon her life. As the various facets of hero and villain become interwoven, Lackey produces a startling and fresh take on this age old fairy story. Little Red Riding Hood and the Wolf, not forgetting the Granny (albeit a minor role), are revealed in a new and lively dimension.
Further, the exploration of `The Tradition' woven into the story via Isabella strengthened my understanding of the genesis of the series as a whole. A first rate read!
a Netgalley ARC

I have enjoyed every book in the Five Hundred Kingdoms series by Mercedes Lackey, and I eagerly waited for her to cover my favorite fairy tale, that of Beauty and the Beast. This book combines my favorite fairy tale with Little Red Riding Hood and a dash of Cinderella, all with its own unique twist characteristic of the series. While I had the ending predicted quite early in my reading, I still enjoyed following the character development and watching it all play out.
Bella is very much the modernized damsel in distress, as she finds a way to do her own saving, and chooses who she would rather fall in love with, rather than let the Tradition dictate her actions. As she learns about the manipulations of the Tradition, she also realizes her own way of unconsciously dealing with it and the power she has over it. I loved her intelligence and creativity in solving the daily problems that riddled her life, especially with the invisible servants at the Duke's residence.
Duke Sebastian is an interesting character -- a wizard werewolf with hermit-like habits -- he is the direct opposite of the type of character I expected to play the role of "Beast" in this fairy tale, but I like him all the same. His devotion to his craft makes him absentminded about everything else in his life, and except for when he is a werewolf, he likely would not hurt a fly. Bella's interactions with him draw him out and show him that he can have so much more in his life.
I also enjoyed Godmother Elena's part in the book, along with her mirror servant, as they cemented this book into the series and reminded me of some of the details that I had forgotten from previous books.

I had heard such amazing things about this author that I was thrilled at the chance to read this book. I also absolutely love Beauty and the Beast and was looking forward to a great fairytale retelling. Unfortunately this book just didn't deliver that for me. I found it incredibly slow. There wasn't much chemistry to keep the book moving along either and the plot seemed to reveal itself in the first few chapters so the suspense was missing. (Granted there could very well have been an amazing twist at the end that I missed because I put it down.) I was also disappointed because I expected this to be an adult story and it seemed more YA to me. Not that YA is a bad thing...I read and enjoy a lot of YA, but this book was marketed as adult. I will say though that since so many of Lackey's books have gotten great reviews, I do plan to pick up another of her stories and give it a shot.

Note: I recieved a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

I had heard such amazing things about this author that I was thrilled at the chance to read this book. I also absolutely love Beauty and the Beast and was looking forward to a great fairytale retelling. Unfortunately this book just didn't deliver that for me. I found it incredibly slow. There wasn't much chemistry to keep the book moving along either and the plot seemed to reveal itself in the first few chapters so the suspense was missing. (Granted there could very well have been an amazing twist at the end that I missed because I put it down.) I was also disappointed because I expected this to be an adult story and it seemed more YA to me. Not that YA is a bad thing...I read and enjoy a lot of YA, but this book was marketed as adult. I will say though that since so many of Lackey's books have gotten great reviews, I do plan to pick up another of her stories and give it a shot.

Note: I recieved a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

4 STARS

I liked Bella and how she thought, did not give up. When I first reading I thought it was a version of Cinderella then red riding hood or Beauty & the Beast. It makes sense when you get into the book why it had different bits of different fairy tales.

Bella has a step mother and two younger step sisters. Her father is a business man. Bella has run the house since she was 10. She is very intelligent and likes to care for others. She is learning about healing plants from her Grandmother in the woods.

Bella gets taken and made to stay with the Duke Sebastian for at least three months. She is upset but makes the best of it and doesn't mind telling the Duke or others off. Bella finds ways to make herself useful and learns a lot of new skills.

I don't want to ruin the story surprises by saying to munch but did enjoy them. The story keeps my attention and would read more books from Mercedes Lackey. I was given this ebook to read in exchange for honest review from Netgalley.

This review has been crossposted from my blog at The Cosy Dragon.com. Please head there for more in-depth reviews by me, which appear on a timely schedule.

It's probably not obvious from this blog yet, but I'm absolutely obsessed with Mercedes Lackey. If I had to choose a fantasy author who was my favourite ever, Lackey would be it. This book 'Beauty and the Werewolf' is the 6th novel in the Five Hundred Kingdoms series, and I pounced on the hard copy version at my local library. It has been preordered from The Book Depository though, and I can't wait to have my own copy on my shelf.

As the name suggests, this is a sort of rewrite of the familiar fairytale: Beauty and the Beast. However, Lackey takes it and puts her own twist on the tale (as you would expect). Isabella has two stepsisters and a lazy step mother who you would expect to fit the story of Cinderella. Instead, Isabella finds herself bitten by a huge wolf. With a curse instead of being a true werebeast, Isabella may be saved from transforming every month, but will she be able to save the man she's coming to respect?

I found the ending of this story very predictable, and the story itself quite predictable as well. Isabella is characterised nicely, and the reader does feel some empathy with her plight. Not too much though, as she seems to have things well in hand. Eric is a semi-convincing Woodsman, and the wizard acceptable. I just wasn't blown away like I was for the rest of the novels in the series - not enough suspense and unexpected twists I suppose.

This novel of the Five Hundred Kingdoms lacks the sexual content which some of the other novels have, so I would confidently recommend it to older teenagers, as well as adults. I don't think it's necessary to read the novels in the story in order, but if you get the chance, it is probably better to read 'The Fairy Godmother' first.

Beauty and the Werewolf is the sixth and latest installment in the Tales of the Five Hundred Kingdoms presented by the talented Mercedes Lackey. Like last year's Sleeping Beauty, Lackey is building fairy tales on the well known and well-traveled landscapes we all know, and then throwing a hard left-right that leaves all of the figures scrambled and everyone saying someone else's lines.

Surprisingly, this year's Beauty is not nearly the departure from traditional storytelling that last year's was. In this story, our "beauty" is named, predictably, "Bella" and is the oldest of a blended family of three girls. As is proper and traditional, Bella is the self-created head of the household. Her useless but assuredly not wicked stepmother spends her time in the bliss of mild hypochondria, cared for by well-meaning and understanding old gents who do their best to keep her happy with her gossip and warm wraps. Bella's sweet and empty-headed twin step-sisters are merely the first gatekeepers to the plot; they are used and promptly discarded literally 20 pages into the story.

Bella throws on her crimson winter wrap, and tromps off into the forest Red-Hood-style to visit the old wise woman in the woods. While on her way to Granny's house, Bella runs into the very disagreeable woodsman Eric, who warns her away from the woods. Bella rebuffs and rebukes him quite strongly, has a lovely visit with Granny, and is promptly bitten by a werewolf - the reclusive Duke Sebastian - on her way home. And with that werewolf attack, Lackey snatches the plot off of the Red Riding Hood path and drops it firmly onto the Beauty and the Beast plot line, delivering Bella to Duke Sebastian's castle to live out a three-month quarantine on her werewolf bite.

In this series, which began with The Fairy Godmother, Lackey takes the fairy tales we remember (Rapunzel, etc.), reminds us of the trope and expectations within each, and then promptly twists them around into new stories and new endings. The mindless magical force that drives many of the life stories within the Five Hundred Kingdoms is The Tradition. The Tradition gets its magic from the repetition of stories around the fireplaces - the faith of the common people - but is agnostic about any particular endings, good or bad. The Fairy Godmothers, Sorcerers, and other Tradition-educated magic users are constantly in a battle of wits and wills to manipulate The Tradition's force into happy endings (which might not be the actual traditional ending). The readers learn about the forces involved as the characters - Bella and Sebastian - find themselves feeling oddly emotional in times and places when it does not make logical sense.

The strengths of this book, and the series, are the characters themselves. Bella is amazingly self-aware and logical about her situation, and horribly stubborn in going about her rebellion. While she rebels against being manipulated by the characters in the castle where she is moved to live out her possible werewolf quarantine, she also explores the reasons for the werewolf's existence and the woodsman's horrid attitude. She also pursues wide-ranging studies, and finally figures out what The Tradition can do for her when she decides what she wants for a solution.

I absolutely loved this book. It is a blending of different fairy tales and I thought it was a refreshing change. I loved how Isabella dealt with everything being thrown at her. I really felt for Sebastian and hoped he would get the happy ending he deserved. With Isabella being forced to stay at his place due to being bitten by him in werewolf form, will love encompass the hearts of these two lonely people. Will the curse be lifted? Read to find out.

I totally recommend this book to people who like to read unconventional fairy tales or paranormal romance!

Beauty and the Werewolf is Mercedes Lackey's latest visit to the Five Hundred Kingdoms. As always, the adventure is well worth the trip.

The Five Hundred Kingdoms is a land where "The Tradition" that invests, or perhaps infests, traditional storytelling has taken on a life of its own, to the point where the tropes actually have the power to force people to conform to those stories.

But sometimes it doesn't work. Cinderella can only become Cinderella if there is a Prince of the right age to rescue her. Otherwise she's a drudge forever. In the Five Hundred Kingdoms, those who can see "The Tradition" at work, and outwit it, become either mages or Fairy Godmothers. The first book in the Five Hundred Kingdoms series is The Fairy Godmother, and is well worth reading. Elena is definitely not a traditional fairy godmother!

Beauty and the Werewolf is a trope bender. It starts out as another Cinderella. Bella has two stepsisters, and her stepmother is a little vain and a little foolish. But Bella took her stepsisters under her wing, and Bella manages the household quite successfully. She is not a drudge. She is not abused. She avoided the Cinderella trap.

Bella visits Granny out in the woods, and stays late enough that she has to come home through the woods after dark. Bella's already had two run ins with Eric, the Gamekeeper, and they've both been distasteful. Eric is a nasty piece of work. He victimizes any women he meets, knowing that most women are of a lower station that he is. Bella is a wealthy merchant's daughter, and he can't treat her the same. I thought the story was leaning toward Red Riding Hood, with Eric as the Big Bad Wolf. He was just right for it.

Then Bella got bitten by a werewolf on the way home from Granny's. It turns out the werewolf is actually the local Duke. He's been suffering under a curse for the past few years, becoming a werewolf every month since he turned 19. He wasn't bitten. The Godmother can't figure out who cursed him. But now that he's bitten Bella, Bella has to stay in his castle with him, until they figure out whether Bella will also become a werewolf. And guess what? Eric is the Duke's Gamekeeper. And his illegitimate brother. And his only contact with the outside world. And a jerk.

With the help of an enchanted mirror, Bella and the Godmother are able to see what "The Tradition" wants her to do. Most of those stories involved some pretty sad endings for Bella. "The Tradition" doesn't care about the people, it only cares about fulfilling the story. But while Bella was busy protecting herself from Eric the jerk, she was also helping Duke Sebastian research his curse. Bella and Sebastian spent a lot of time together while Bella learned about magic and Sebastian just got to enjoy having someone else around besides Eric the jerk.

So Bella may have been thoroughly protected from the story of "The Rake's Reward" but she was not in the least armored against "Beauty and the Beast".

Escape Rating A: This story rides on whether or not you want to spend time with Bella. I did. Bella is very managing. She manages her family, she manages her time, she manages her life. Getting bitten is probably the best thing that happens to her, and possibly them. She gets a vacation!

I'm serious, in a way. Once she and her father are able to communicate, she is able to enjoy herself. She is also in a position to take a look at her life, and make some real discoveries. Learning about "The Tradition" is a real eye-opener. It's been trying to manage her exactly the way she's been managing her family. She doesn't like it at all.

There is a lovely nod to the Disney movie, without being cloying. There are invisible servants. They don't talk, but they can move objects, and some the loyal servants who were cursed with Sebastian. Very nicely done.

I call these books "mind candy". You won't learn anything great, but it's a fun read and won't rot your teeth. A mild and sweet story that made me want to read the rest of the series! Imagine Beauty and the Beast if "Beauty" were a self-assured heroine and "Beast" were a Werewolf.

Newly imagined characters create the suspense as someone deliberately tries to kill "Beauty" which leads to her imprisonment and confrontation with "Beast". Will she find love? Will she ever reunite with her family? Will she even survive? No great suspense here, but a good and clever story to be enjoyed by fans of the super-natural genre as well as the fantasy/fairy tale genre.

"Beauty and the Werewolf" by Mercedes Lackey is a smooth mixture of Beauty and the Beast and Little Red Riding Hood. The theme of isolation is a key part of the tale. Sebastian, who portrays the "wolf" or "beast" has been living alone for years. Although he acts as if he doesn't mind, he gets very lonely. Bella, the heroine, feels like a stranger in her own home sometimes. Her father is a wealthy merchant, and her stepmother vain. The plot is well played. It starts out with all the signs of a Little Red Riding Hood (LRRH) spinoff. A girl with a red cloak, sets off to a wise woman's house and is stopped by a wolf. But here the story changes. Bella is forced to stay in the castle with the wolf for a period of time. They fall in love, giving the tale a "Beauty and the Beast (BATB) feel.The point of view is predominantly Bella's. She is a little selfish, which is refreshing in a protagonist. Once in a blue moon, the point of view changes to Sebastian. It's very wistful and dreamy, but we see that he is a bit of a martyr. The tension builds and recedes quite often. When Bella is bitten, when the first full moon comes, when the servants appear. There is a brief love triangle, but unlike in other novels, it doen't drag on with a "woe is me" ideal. In a review by Cally Steucy, it is mentioned that "One point that I did find somewhat disappointing was the way her character development was handled: unlike the standard heroines of the 500 Kingdoms, Bella starts out with an unexplicated but quite visible selfish streak." If protagonists are perfect, it makes for a boring story. Andie from "One Good Knight" has a tendency to think before she acts. Elena from "The Fairy Godmother" is short-tempered. Katya from "Fortune's Fool" is a picky eater. Rosa from "The Sleeping Beauty" falls in love too fast. And in "A Tangled Web, the heroine is a literal Barbarian" There are many flaws in the heroines of the 500 kingdoms. I highly recommend this book and the entire series- they need not be read in any particular order.

Isabella Beauchamps tries to get along with her stepmother (Genevieve) and two stepsisters (Amber and Pearl). However, she is unhappy as she feels like the outsider with her dad Henri the merchant paying attention to his second wife and her two daughters. One day wearing a cloak of red Bella journeys through the forbidden forest where she meets Eric the woodsman as she brings goodies to Granny the wisewoman and heeds her advice.

On the way home, a werewolf attacks and bites her. The king sends Bella to stay with reclusive sorcerer Duke Sebastian to determine whether she is a full moon shifter. Her reluctant host is also a werewolf trying to find a spell to remove the shifter curse. At the same time she assists the duke with his experiments and also struggles to identify his servants, Bella, using a mirror, consults with her Fairy Godmother who explains none can buck the universal Tradition force that insures everyone fits inside a fairy tale.

The latest fabulous Five Hundred Kingdoms fantasy (see The Sleeping Beauty and The Fairy Godmother) is a terrific entry as Mercedes Lackey once again satirizes the Tradition roles of society in which those stepping outside the box are condemned as heretics rather than pioneers. The story line is fast-paced and filled with action while there is plenty of humor as Bella attempts to break out of the Tradition expected of the oldest daughter.

Harriet Klausner

I have enjoyed several stories written by Ms. Lackey --esp. her Elemental Masters series-- and was quite happy to discover the 500 Kingdoms series. The stories are neat twists (often tongue-in-cheek)on fairytale tropes and traditions. My favorite is the first book, The Fairy Godmother (Tales of the Five Hundred Kingdoms, Book 1), but I have enjoyed many of the others too.

Somehow, this story Beauty and the Werewolf (Tales of the Five Hundred Kingdoms, Book 6) just didn't grip me. The heroine is annoying and bossy and the villain is more interesting than the hero. And the plot, to me, was pretty predictable. Disappointed, but not giving up on future stories.

I had a difficult time making it through this one. I read The Sleeping Beauty right before it and found it hard to put down! Beauty and the Werewolf's description seemed like it had potential but I found myself looking for more substance. The relationship between Bella and Sebastian contained very little chemistry in my opinion. I thought the hero's character needed more depth. It almost seemed like the villain was stronger, more passionate, and more vivid. I did like Bella's character. It's definitely worth reading if you enjoy Mercedes Lackey...but don't expect an epic masterpiece.

This is another of Mercedes Lackey's Five Hundred Kingdoms Novels. It's something like book six, and if you've read the others you know what you're in for. In general, I find the setting charming, and occasionally the plots make me nerdgasm (Sigfried and Sleeping Beauty's crossup was one of those). This one was less oddly working crossups and more "explain classical aspects of the story in the terms of the setting." She's bitten by a werewolf, that's why she can't leave the castle - not because (as in the original) the Beast is a desperate loser who's trying to force a woman - any woman - to love him through Stockholm Syndrome. Other aspects of the story, the reclusive nature of the castle, the invisible servants, etc, are explained within the context of the setting.

With that said, it's typical Mercedes Lackey romance book - you know what you're getting when you buy it, an enlightened woman facing an odd situation in which she eventually finds love; enjoyable afternoon read with a touch of whimsy and a dash of fairy tale magic; a cute mishmash of genre fiction and romance to create a fun read, take your pick.

Beauty and the beast is my favorite fairy tale so I love to discover new versions. This was a very enjoyable read. The only criticism I would have is the "invisable servants" angle. That has been done (see the best B&B retelling ever-Robin McKinley's Beauty)and it would have been nice to see an original take on the concept. Still-a great read.

I really did like this book. I would definetly reccomend it. It was very clever and enjoyable. I did not quite Like the love story because it was sudden not gradual you don't just all of a sudden fall in love with someone it takes time. But I did like the story's plot. The characters were very wel thought throungh. Definetly a good read. I would give it a five star but... beacause of the small love blossom drop that happened to fast.

I started the Five Hundred Kingdoms series when I was a teen and loved them. Lackey's style is a little young now that I am in my twenties, but I can still get swept away in her well crafted plots. A great, light read, and I highly recommend the series to anyone looking for books for young women. Empowered female characters with a fairy tale origin. What more could you want?

This review has been crossposted from my blog at The Cosy Dragon.com. Please head there for more in-depth reviews by me, which appear on a timely schedule.

It's probably not obvious from this blog yet, but I'm absolutely obsessed with Mercedes Lackey. If I had to choose a fantasy author who was my favourite ever, Lackey would be it. This book 'Beauty and the Werewolf' is the 6th novel in the Five Hundred Kingdoms series, and I pounced on the hard copy version at my local library. It has been preordered from The Book Depository though, and I can't wait to have my own copy on my shelf.

As the name suggests, this is a sort of rewrite of the familiar fairytale: Beauty and the Beast. However, Lackey takes it and puts her own twist on the tale (as you would expect). Isabella has two stepsisters and a lazy step mother who you would expect to fit the story of Cinderella. Instead, Isabella finds herself bitten by a huge wolf. With a curse instead of being a true werebeast, Isabella may be saved from transforming every month, but will she be able to save the man she's coming to respect?

I found the ending of this story very predictable, and the story itself quite predictable as well. Isabella is characterised nicely, and the reader does feel some empathy with her plight. Not too much though, as she seems to have things well in hand. Eric is a semi-convincing Woodsman, and the wizard acceptable. I just wasn't blown away like I was for the rest of the novels in the series - not enough suspense and unexpected twists I suppose.

This novel of the Five Hundred Kingdoms lacks the sexual content which some of the other novels have, so I would confidently recommend it to older teenagers, as well as adults. I don't think it's necessary to read the novels in the story in order, but if you get the chance, it is probably better to read 'The Fairy Godmother' first.

Absolute twaddle. Not a single original, noteworthy, or memorable element in this book. I stopped buying her books years ago (this particular series after the first one), and getting this out of the library was a waste of an afternoon. Even as fluffy brain candy, this is less satisfying than cyanide-laced cotton candy. I am utterly mystified at the high ratings this book has.

Your previous Five Hundred Kingdom books were wonderful - rich with detail, the characters
so alive.
Alas, this one just ain't so great. The characters did not seem fully fleshed-out,
there just was something missing....
drat.
I think I'll go back and read the earlier books, really loved those.
This one was just okay.
double drat.
Your loyal reader,
Ms. F

I have enjoyed Lackey's Five Hundred Kingdom stories very much and think they're really cool, except...I don't want to be filled with lust at another Bed scene. Do the main characters sleep together in this book?

This was my first Mercedes Lackey novel. I am not sure if I am a fan. I do feel she writes well, but this story came off as mediocre fluff. It is definitely a retelling of the Beauty and the Beast tale we all know and love, but, unlike other forays into this story, this one has no depth and is forgettable. This tale’s biggest failure is the romance. There pretty much is none until the last 50 pages or so of the novel. And when the romance portion is finally introduced, it is so light and superficial; you feel left wanting in that department. Honestly, I viewed Bella’s relationship to her romantic counterpart more like he was her brother. That is how completely sexless their relationship was. There was no sexual tension. Nothing steamy. They didn’t even have adorable or whimsical going for them. Nothing that makes a great and memorable romance. There was absolutely no tension between them! This is a must for a B&B story! The two lovers must clash in the beginning so that their joining is that much sweeter in the end. At least, that is my view.

As for the Beauty and the Beast portion; this is serviceable, but doesn’t really hit the depth that most B&B stories try to attain. One major aspect of the B&B storyline is that the Beast character is a vain, self-obsessed sort of character who treats those around him horribly, then eventually comes to learn to be better because of Belle (or Bella, or whatever variation you have read in other B&B retellings). His affliction (being beast-like, or grossly deformed in other retellings, is usually a source of anguish for him and part of his reclusive, angry personality). This is not the case in this retelling. The “Beast” is not broody, does not have a temper, and has no dynamic change through the course of the novel. Although he is forced to be a recluse, he sort of embraces it and has no real qualms about being a werewolf. He and Bella get along fairly well off the bat, and knowing her doesn’t really change him in any way. He is a very vanilla and boring character. He has some cute moments with his awkward personality, but that doesn’t really fall into the B&B troupe.

The fairytale aspect of the story has some highs and some lows. Lackey’s version of the “cursed” servants was unique and a great twist to the possessed furniture B&B is most remembered for. The rest of the magic comes off as too fairytale-bookish. There is literally a Fairy Godmother, a talking mirror – which aren’t bad things, they just came off as a less sophisticated way to show the magical portion of this story. Or, at least, having used those troupes, nothing new seemed to be added, or they weren’t changed enough to make them interesting.

“The Tradition” was downright annoying. “The Tradition” comes off as this mystical force that controls and manipulates everyone and everything by pigeon-holing them into stereotypical fairytale troupes. Or, at least, that is what I gathered from Bella’s thoughts on it. She would often make or not make choices a certain way because she was trying to go against “The Tradition”. This got annoying because I felt it had the opposite effect of what, I think, the author was trying to create by having “The Tradition.” In my mind, Bella’s choices were still governed by “The Tradition” because she made them to thwart the magical force, therefore, was it really her true choice?

And, did you get sick of reading "The Tradition" in that paragraph? Imagine reading it for a 300+ page book...

There isn’t a whole lot of action in the novel, more so than other novels I have read, but still light. Most of the action is at the end of the novel. A lot of the novel is spent reading about Bella walking the halls of the castle, interacting with the servants, spending time in Sebastian’s room, and sometimes surveying the grounds with Eric, the gamekeeper. That is not necessarily a bad thing, but if you like action, this novel is light for that sort of thing.

Overall, I found this to be a mediocre retelling of a classic. I did manage to read the novel all the way through without having the need to speed read, but, when I was finished, my feeling was: meh. None of the aspects you look for in a B&B retelling were done great or in a memorable way. If you want a made-for-t.v. type B&B story with magic and a werewolf “feeling”, you’ll get that here. It’s a “there’s nothing better to read on a rainy Sunday, so I’ll waste a few hours with this for a while” sort of read.