'Beast' by Donna Jo Napoli is a unique retelling of the classic fairy tale Beauty and the Beast from the perspective of the Beast, a Persian prince named Orasmyn who is cursed to live as a lion. The story delves into Orasmyn's struggles to balance his human identity with his animal instincts, as well as his journey from Persia to France in search of a way to break the curse. The book is praised for its vivid imagery, character-driven narrative, and incorporation of Islamic and Persian elements into the traditional Western fairy tale.

Characters:

Characters are multi-faceted, with the Beast facing internal conflicts and Belle providing a strong counterbalance in the story.

Writing/Prose:

The prose is immersive and richly descriptive, yet occasionally graphic and uneven, enhancing the cultural depth of the story.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot focuses on a Persian prince’s transformation into a lion as a consequence of his actions regarding an animal sacrifice, leading to a journey of self-discovery and romance.

Setting:

The setting spans culturally rich locations, providing a vivid backdrop that informs the storyline's magical and thematic elements.

Pacing:

The pacing varies, with earlier sections being slower and more introspective, while later parts accelerate towards the resolution.

I gasp roughly. Beast and warrior glow white, burning, against the gold ground. The sun glints off the illuminated pages as it glints off the metal mar—snake—that twists around and around from my wris...

Notes:

The story is a retelling of Beauty and the Beast from the Beast's perspective.

The protagonist, Prince Orasmyn, is a Persian prince who is transformed into a lion due to a curse.

The curse is a result of his decision to sacrifice an unfit camel, which angers a fairy (pari).

The narrative explores Persian Muslim culture, incorporating elements like religious beliefs and practices.

Orasmyn's initial character is portrayed as sensitive and compassionate but flawed in his religious commitment.

The book includes an unusual scene where Orasmyn, as a lion, mates with lionesses, which some readers found distasteful.

The setting of the story travels from Persia to India and then to France, adding diverse cultural elements.

The romance aspect develops later in the story, highlighting Orasmyn's character growth and self-discovery.

The audiobook narrator's initial delivery was criticized but improved as the story progressed.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Content warnings include themes of bestiality, animal sacrifice, graphic hunting scenes, and discussions surrounding morality, which may be disturbing for some readers.

Has Romance?

While romance is present in the plot, it develops gradually and does not dominate the narrative until later sections of the book.

From The Publisher:

Meet the Beast - before there was Beauty

Orasmyn is the prince of Persia and heir to the throne. His religion fills his heart and his mind, and he strives for the knowledge and leadership his father demonstrates. But on the day of the Feast of Sacrifices, Orasmyn makes a foolish choice that results in a fairy's wretched punishment: He is turned into a beast, a curse to be undone only by the love of a woman.

Thus begins Orasmyn's journey through the exotic Middle East and sensuous France as he struggles to learn the way of the beast, while also preserving the mind of the man. This is the story of his search, not only for a woman courageous enough to love him, but also for his own redemption.

Ratings (2)

Liked It (2)

Reader Stats (4):

Read It (2)
Want To Read (1)
Not Interested (1)

What can you read after
Beast?

See the list (35 books)

About the Author:

Donna Jo Napoli is the acclaimed and award-winning author of many novels, both fantasies and contemporary stories. She won the Golden Kite Award for Stones in Water in 1997. Her novel Zel was named an American Bookseller Pick of the Lists, a Publishers Weekly Best Book, a Bulletin Blue Ribbon, and a School Library Journal Best Book, and a number of her novels have been selected as ALA Best Books. She is a professor of linguistics at Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania, where she lives with her husband. Visit her at DonnaJoNapoli.com.

Meet New Books is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a way for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to products and services on amazon.com and its subsidiaries.
When you click the Amazon link and make a purchase, we may receive a small commision, at no cost to you.

Activity

Recommendations

My Stuff

Account

More

Beast

Donna Jo Napoli