Reviews

Beastkeeper by Cat Hellisen

mbenzz's review against another edition

4.0

Great middle-grade read. A little bizarre there at the end, but overall I really enjoyed it. It's a different take on the classic Beauty and the Beast story, and the author did a great job of making it her own. Definitely recommend.

kakarrhea's review against another edition

4.0

You can’t make someone fall in love with you...that is where the storytellers write their own sugary versions of the truth. A pack of lies until they reach ‘The End.’

No story ever comes to an end, at least not one so neat. There are voices silenced, characters erased at the storyteller’s whim...

They do not tell you what happens when the children have eaten their way through the witch’s treasures and face another starving winter, when the glass slipper no longer fits the crone’s swollen foot, when the beauty doesn’t fall in love with her beastly prince.

This story was magical in all the right ways. The ending was not any different, but just the same, the ending was not what I wanted.

gypsy_t's review against another edition

adventurous dark reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

aobenstine's review against another edition

4.0

This was really enchanting! I loved the spin of the tale, and It exceeded my expectations. The only issues I had with it was 1. The main character, Sarah, seemed a bit young for this tale. She read as 15-16 rather than 13. Also, the I would have liked to have a little more insight as to what happened after everything; the ending was a bit abrupt.

readmoreyall's review against another edition

3.0

fairy tale retelling, was missing something for me (probably characterization)

theowlerybooks's review against another edition

2.0

This is a stretched fairy tale retelling of Beauty and the Beast. I really enjoyed the main character Sarah but her reactions to certain events just seemed fake. I enjoyed it overall but I have read much better fairy tale retellings!

aswehlartist's review against another edition

mysterious sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

0.25

The narrative feels disjointed. Like the author couldn’t decide if she wanted a FMC that was eager to believe in magic and break the curse or a cynic who refused to believe and later turned to resent magic while attempting to break the curse. 
The world building and plot are confusing. 

jenlynng_81's review against another edition

adventurous medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix

3.25

makaylariley's review against another edition

3.0

3.5 Stars

I have no idea what just happened. I'm in a state of shock.

lisawreading's review against another edition

2.0

Part of my problem with Beastkeeper is that I can't figure out who the target audience is. It's listed on Amazon as a teen (young adult) book, but the main character is 12, making the storyline skew a bit young for YA.

Beyond that, the storyline was simply not what I'd expected based on the synopsis, and the plot seemed to go in circles that never really moved the action forward. Beastkeeper is basically a Beauty & the Beast retelling, but more convoluted than it really needs to be, with witches and ravens, mean old grandmothers and musty run-down castles. I had a hard time staying interested, and the sudden ending was not an adequate pay-off for sticking with the book.

At least it was a quick read. And the cover is quite pretty.