Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.1 AVERAGE
4.1 AVERAGE
This re-imagined tale (is it a twist on both Beauty and the Beast and The Secret Garden?) will touch your heart, or it did mine. The "beast" is the Belle's estranged father, and Belle is not sure how to go about steps of restoration with someone who doesn't seem to want to know her. Her impetuous nature gets her in trouble several times, but as she looks to the Lord and realizes she must not grow weary in well doing, God brings about the nigh impossible.
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A sweet story with powerful messages!
I need to reread this one soon! I loved the twist on Beauty the Beast – not a romance story, but one of redemption, perseverance, love, and family. Faith and prayer were very strong themes, and the ending was tactfully handled. It made me smile.
I would love an even longer story about these characters, their world, and their situations. The characters are vivid, with goals, dreams, and backstories of their own, and I could relate to all of them. I enjoyed seeing the character growth that happened, even in such a short story. Even without a “villain”, tension was strong.
The main character was surprisingly likable, even without knowing her for long. I admired her faith and her love for her father, even when it was difficult. I also absolutely loved the mentor character in this story. He was so good for her, and I liked any time he entered the scene. I was touched by the resolution at the end – my favorite part – and the tie-ins to the original fairy tales were fun. Overall, a very solid story!
Tricky Content: Mention of a beheading, pain, emotional distress, estranged family relationships, mention of a death, suspense and tension.
I’d Recommend It To: Anyone who enjoys stories with fresh twists on a medieval Beauty and the Beast story, featuring an emphasis on (Christian) faith, redemption, and family.
I need to reread this one soon! I loved the twist on Beauty the Beast – not a romance story, but one of redemption, perseverance, love, and family. Faith and prayer were very strong themes, and the ending was tactfully handled. It made me smile.
I would love an even longer story about these characters, their world, and their situations. The characters are vivid, with goals, dreams, and backstories of their own, and I could relate to all of them. I enjoyed seeing the character growth that happened, even in such a short story. Even without a “villain”, tension was strong.
The main character was surprisingly likable, even without knowing her for long. I admired her faith and her love for her father, even when it was difficult. I also absolutely loved the mentor character in this story. He was so good for her, and I liked any time he entered the scene. I was touched by the resolution at the end – my favorite part – and the tie-ins to the original fairy tales were fun. Overall, a very solid story!
Tricky Content: Mention of a beheading, pain, emotional distress, estranged family relationships, mention of a death, suspense and tension.
I’d Recommend It To: Anyone who enjoys stories with fresh twists on a medieval Beauty and the Beast story, featuring an emphasis on (Christian) faith, redemption, and family.
Although this was a fairly simple, straight-forward read, I enjoyed the retelling of an old fairytale in a new light. Belle instantly won a piece of my heart with her simple, loving care, trying to do the best for everyone around her. I loved how she worked to fix the problems she was seeing at hand, although not overstepping her boundaries, either.
In many ways, Befriending the Beast reminded me of the stories I entertain myself with at different times—perhaps not a huge amount of depth, but a satisfying story with enough in it to make one think. I appreciated that. Good book!
I requested a free review copy of this book, and this is my honest opinion of it.
In many ways, Befriending the Beast reminded me of the stories I entertain myself with at different times—perhaps not a huge amount of depth, but a satisfying story with enough in it to make one think. I appreciated that. Good book!
I requested a free review copy of this book, and this is my honest opinion of it.
A sweet retelling of B&B, with elements of the Secret Garden. Probably the best non-magical retelling of the story that I've read.
Short, sweet and beautiful, Befriending the Beast was really enjoyable to read. As a fairytale re-telling I wasn’t quite sure what to expect, but it was masterfully told without (somehow) romance or magic.
Overall, it’s fairly short, definitely more of a novella than a novel.
The Christian content was really amazing. Straightforward and told masterfully without feeling preachy or anything.
I empathized with Belle, but didn’t really connect with any of the characters very deeply. They were written well, but I didn’t really feel like I got to know them really well, if that makes sense at all. The king’s development was amazing though, and even the side characters all had unique personalities.
I think my only problem is that it didn’t really feel … long enough? Don’t get me wrong, the plot is fully developed and the ending doesn’t leave me unsatisfied or anything. I do feel like everything just could have … been expanded a little bit? It passed a bit too quickly for my taste, and though it wrapped up very nicely I would have liked seeing more of … well, everything.
Overall though, I really liked it. :)
Original (and very slightly more thorough) review here at Penumbra Reviews
Overall, it’s fairly short, definitely more of a novella than a novel.
The Christian content was really amazing. Straightforward and told masterfully without feeling preachy or anything.
I empathized with Belle, but didn’t really connect with any of the characters very deeply. They were written well, but I didn’t really feel like I got to know them really well, if that makes sense at all. The king’s development was amazing though, and even the side characters all had unique personalities.
I think my only problem is that it didn’t really feel … long enough? Don’t get me wrong, the plot is fully developed and the ending doesn’t leave me unsatisfied or anything. I do feel like everything just could have … been expanded a little bit? It passed a bit too quickly for my taste, and though it wrapped up very nicely I would have liked seeing more of … well, everything.
Overall though, I really liked it. :)
Original (and very slightly more thorough) review here at Penumbra Reviews
About this book:
“Belle has returned unannounced to the castle to restore her relationship with the king, her father. Her hopes are dashed with the devastating message: "The king refuses to see you." Convinced that God has led her home, she is unwilling to return to Lord and Lady Kiralyn. But will the king offer her any other choice?
Time is running out and she has a life-changing decision to make. When tragedy strikes, will she and her father be pulled further apart or knit together? Could she stay at the castle even if she will never see her father again?”
Series: Book #1 in the “Tales of Faith” series.
Spiritual Content- A few Scriptures are read & quoted; Prayers; Talks about God, Jesus, being saved, the cross & sinners; ‘H’s are capital when referring to God; Belle has a strong faith; Mentions of God; Mentions of prayers & praising God; Mentions of a Bible & bible reading; Mentions of Christmas & church going; Mentions of Heaven; A few mentions of sins.
Negative Content- Pain (barely-above-not-detailed); A mention of beheading; Mentions of (a mother’s) death; Mentions of hunting, hunting weapons & game.
Sexual Content- N/A
-(Princess) Belle, age 15
P.O.V. of Belle
{Medieval/Fantasy}
106 pages
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Pre Teens- Three Stars
New Teens- Four Stars
Early High School Teens- Four Stars
Older High School Teens- Four Stars
My personal Rating- Four Stars
This was a really neat twist on the classic Beauty & the Beast story! I really enjoyed the no-romance version of this fairy-tale—the ‘beast’ was actually Belle’s father. Lots of faith content which was great, I only wish it was longer! ;)
(And that cover is adorable!)
Link to review:
https://booksforchristiangirls.blogspot.com/2016/12/befriending-beast-by-amanda-tero.html
*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.
*I received this book for free from the Author for this honest review.
“Belle has returned unannounced to the castle to restore her relationship with the king, her father. Her hopes are dashed with the devastating message: "The king refuses to see you." Convinced that God has led her home, she is unwilling to return to Lord and Lady Kiralyn. But will the king offer her any other choice?
Time is running out and she has a life-changing decision to make. When tragedy strikes, will she and her father be pulled further apart or knit together? Could she stay at the castle even if she will never see her father again?”
Series: Book #1 in the “Tales of Faith” series.
Spiritual Content- A few Scriptures are read & quoted; Prayers; Talks about God, Jesus, being saved, the cross & sinners; ‘H’s are capital when referring to God; Belle has a strong faith; Mentions of God; Mentions of prayers & praising God; Mentions of a Bible & bible reading; Mentions of Christmas & church going; Mentions of Heaven; A few mentions of sins.
Negative Content- Pain (barely-above-not-detailed); A mention of beheading; Mentions of (a mother’s) death; Mentions of hunting, hunting weapons & game.
Sexual Content- N/A
-(Princess) Belle, age 15
P.O.V. of Belle
{Medieval/Fantasy}
106 pages
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Pre Teens- Three Stars
New Teens- Four Stars
Early High School Teens- Four Stars
Older High School Teens- Four Stars
My personal Rating- Four Stars
This was a really neat twist on the classic Beauty & the Beast story! I really enjoyed the no-romance version of this fairy-tale—the ‘beast’ was actually Belle’s father. Lots of faith content which was great, I only wish it was longer! ;)
(And that cover is adorable!)
Link to review:
https://booksforchristiangirls.blogspot.com/2016/12/befriending-beast-by-amanda-tero.html
*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.
*I received this book for free from the Author for this honest review.
STORY
Super duper nice retelling of Beauty and the Beast! My biggest qualm with the story was personal: it felt super rushed. Well structured, yes, but things would have made more of an impact on me had it been a slower struggle. However, novellas and such are super great, and this one was fantastic. I wanted more, haha.
THEMES
The themes of God's salvation and choosing to do His will, not our own, were prominent in this little book. Very well executed. Again, things were a bit rushed. I did love the themes though.
CHARACTERS
Allllll the stars for Percy. Percy is amazing.
The characters were all super well written and had great motivation.
A part of the too-rushed thing, I do think some choices or actions done by the characters were to keep things short and nondramatic, but it was still great.
CONTENT
Super clean read! No swearing, no violence, no gore, no sensual content. I'd say G or PG.
OVERALL
Super cute.
Super duper nice retelling of Beauty and the Beast! My biggest qualm with the story was personal: it felt super rushed. Well structured, yes, but things would have made more of an impact on me had it been a slower struggle. However, novellas and such are super great, and this one was fantastic. I wanted more, haha.
THEMES
The themes of God's salvation and choosing to do His will, not our own, were prominent in this little book. Very well executed. Again, things were a bit rushed. I did love the themes though.
CHARACTERS
Allllll the stars for Percy. Percy is amazing.
The characters were all super well written and had great motivation.
A part of the too-rushed thing, I do think some choices or actions done by the characters were to keep things short and nondramatic, but it was still great.
CONTENT
Super clean read! No swearing, no violence, no gore, no sensual content. I'd say G or PG.
OVERALL
Super cute.
I wasn't sure what to expect since this was a fairy-tale retelling and I'm not much into that sort of book. I shouldn't have worried. Amanda did an incredible job of making the story real and the characters lovable. Yes, even the "beast." The message of love and patience was so true and encouraged me.
I'm glad I read this short book.
I'm glad I read this short book.