TW: Towards the end of my review I’m going to mention a criticism about a plot point and it can be triggering to some.
I was looking forward to a new take on an old classic, especially with an LGBTQ+ character, but this was just… disappointing. As a rule, I try to be sympathetic to the author because I have a great deal of respect for their ability to write and complete a book of any sort. That is why I gave this review two stars. The author did something i certainly cannot do.
The thing is that I struggled to like any of the characters. They were shallow, two dimensional and boring. I found it impossible to suspend disbelief with regard to the Beast and his obtuseness. Furthermore, there was an obsession with beauty that just seemed unnecessary.
My biggest problem with this book is the casual reactions that all characters seem to have when facing the threat of violent assault. The victim of course can respond in whatever way they deem appropriate at the time, whether that means fighting, crying, screaming, or with humor or deflection… it’s about survival. No one seemed to take the threat of this seriously, and no one seemed to have any lasting thoughts, concerns or effects afterwards. It was gratuitous and insensitive.