Donna Jo Napoli

Elaborates on the tale of "Beauty and the Beast," told from the point of view of the beast and set in Persia.

Beast

Toni Turner

I read this years ago and I still think about it all the time. I read it in middle school and had rented it from the library then years later I bought it for myself and I've got to say that was a good call on my part. 
This book is so interesting and beautiful. 
Loads of times people hate it when a book is slow, but there are instants I've notes where a slow book like this one (in my opinion) is so wonderful It just meant I could spend a longer time reading it and i felt so immersed in the story and the adventure. It is such a beautiful book. 
Love.

Jeni Enjaian

I'm not quite sure how I feel about this book. It has a lot going for it in terms of innovations. Telling the tried-and-true, almost cliché story of Beauty and the Beast from the point of view of the Beast is an interesting innovation but could have backfired. I think that Napoli's addition of Middle Eastern heritage to the character of the Beast added enough of a twist to keep the clichés from hanging on.

That being said, since the Beast was an actual Beast instead of a highly anthropomorphized character the character was incredibly difficult to empathize with even if he hadn't been the traditional antagonist of the story. Napoli also included several descriptions of real, normal animal behavior that the Beast acted upon when ruled by his animal instincts. While this is not outside the range of normal behavior, I find it highly unnecessary in the book and more than a bit off-putting.

My opinion of the book is almost a coin toss. I definitely think it could have been better though, mainly if corrections to the above could have been included.

While I can't recommend this book or recommend against this book, I warn any future reader that this is not a traditional take on the Beauty and the Beast story.

Now in mass-market paperback-- the] elegantly sensual retelling of Beauty and the Beast, told from the Beast's point of view.--School Library Journal, starred review.