Beast: A Tale of Love and Revenge
There have been many different retellings of the popular fairy tale Beauty and the Beast, but none quite like Lisa Jensen’s novel Beast: A Tale of Love and Revenge. Jensen’s twisted tale focuses on a servant girl named Lucie and her time at the handsome Jean-Loup Christian Henri LeNoir’s estate. Although his estate is beautiful on the outside, like its master, there is darkness and cruelty underneath.
When Lucie witnesses this cruelty for herself, she vows to see Jean-Loup suffer. Her wish comes true thanks to a wise woman who turns Jean-Loup into a hideous beast who can only return to his true form if someone will marry him as a beast. But the beast is not like Jean-Loup at all. His kindness and gentleness shocks Lucie. She dares to hope Beast has permanently replaced cruel Jean-Loup, but when a beauty stumbles upon the castle, everything is in jeopardy.
Jensen’s take on Beauty and the Beast truly makes the reader reconsider what they think they know about beauty and beastliness. There are graphic scenes in the beginning of this novel and it can be triggering. Despite the graphic nature, this is by far one of my favourite retellings of my favourite fairy tale. Jensen has taken a classic story and given these characters new life.
Beast tackles many important topics, ones that translate over from historical France to the modern day. One of the most important ones is consent and victim-blaming. In a world where the victims of sexual assault are often still not believed, Jensen used her creative voice to discuss how it is never a victim’s fault for what happened to them. It’s a message that everyone needs to hear.
Beast: A Tale of Love and Revenge may have a long title, but it’s an incredible book that readers who have waited for a new take on an old story will devour.
Beast: A Tale of Love and Revenge Rating: ★★★★★
When Lucie witnesses this cruelty for herself, she vows to see Jean-Loup suffer. Her wish comes true thanks to a wise woman who turns Jean-Loup into a hideous beast who can only return to his true form if someone will marry him as a beast. But the beast is not like Jean-Loup at all. His kindness and gentleness shocks Lucie. She dares to hope Beast has permanently replaced cruel Jean-Loup, but when a beauty stumbles upon the castle, everything is in jeopardy.
Jensen’s take on Beauty and the Beast truly makes the reader reconsider what they think they know about beauty and beastliness. There are graphic scenes in the beginning of this novel and it can be triggering. Despite the graphic nature, this is by far one of my favourite retellings of my favourite fairy tale. Jensen has taken a classic story and given these characters new life.
Beast tackles many important topics, ones that translate over from historical France to the modern day. One of the most important ones is consent and victim-blaming. In a world where the victims of sexual assault are often still not believed, Jensen used her creative voice to discuss how it is never a victim’s fault for what happened to them. It’s a message that everyone needs to hear.
Beast: A Tale of Love and Revenge may have a long title, but it’s an incredible book that readers who have waited for a new take on an old story will devour.
Beast: A Tale of Love and Revenge Rating: ★★★★★