Heart's Blood

Heart’s Blood by Juliet Marillier

Release Date: November 3rd, 2009
Publisher: Roc Hardcover
Age Group: Adult
Pages: 416
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This is a stunning gothic love story based on the legends of Beauty and the Beast. Whistling Tor is a place of secrets, a mysterious, wooded hill housing the crumbling fortress of a chieftain whose name is spoken throughout the district in tones of revulsion and bitterness. A curse lies over Anluan's family and his people; those woods hold a perilous force whose every whisper threatens doom. For young scribe Caitrin it is a safe haven. This place where nobody else is prepared to go seems exactly what she needs, for Caitrin is fleeing her own demons. As Caitrin comes to know Anluan and his home in more depth she realizes that it is only through her love and determination that the curse can be broken and Anluan and his people set free.

Juliet Marillier is the writer of my favorite series The Sevenwaters Trilogy which I think I have reviewed at least two of them earlier on. She has also written Wildwood Dancing and Cybele’s Secret. Being my favorite author, I might be slightly biased, but I loved the book and story.

While the story mimic’s that of the typical Beauty and the Beast storyline, the characters are unique and immediately loveable. The thing I liked more about these characters was that Caitrin, (who plays the Belle character in comparison to the Beauty/Beast story) does not become a beauty until after she spends time at the enchanted fortress with the ‘Beast’ or Anluan. The character of Anluan is different from the typical Beast; yet share many of the same qualities. The curse that is placed upon Anluan’s people is also amazingly new and unique. I loved the Host and the characters it brought to life through them.

The beginning is a little slower than some of her other books, but it did not stop me from being sucked in after the first few chapters. It is more complex than her teen fiction novels, but could still be enjoyed by mostly anyone. It was nice to read a book that was a little more challenging and could not be finished in a day like some other books that I have read.

It was a great story, and I would definitely reread it at some point in the future. Juliet Marillier has a way with taking an old fairy tale and putting an amazing twist on it that people do not expect, with characters that stay with you long after the story ends.

Who Might Like This Book:
Fairy Tale Lovers
Fantasy Romance Lovers

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Beauty

Beauty by Robin McKinley

Release Date: January 1st, 1978
Publisher: HarperTrophy
Age Group: Young Adult
Pages: 256
Overall:

Contrary to the name, 16-year-old Beauty is not the prettiest girl in her family. But she is the cleverest, bravest, and most honorable. When her father makes a promise with a beast who lives in an enchanted castle, Beauty fulfills her father's pledge. A marvelous retelling of a favorite love story.

This much-loved retelling of the classic French tale Beauty and the Beast elicits the familiar magical charm, but is more believable and complex than the traditional story. In this version, Beauty is not as beautiful as her older sisters, who are both lovely and kind. Here, in fact, Beauty has no confidence in her appearance but takes pride in her own intelligence, her love of learning and books, and her talent in riding. She is the most competent of the three sisters, which proves essential when they are forced to retire to the country because of their father's financial ruin.

The plot follows that of the renowned legend: Beauty selflessly agrees to inhabit the Beast's castle to spare her father's life. Beauty's gradual acceptance of the Beast and the couple's deepening trust and affection are amplified in novel form. Robin McKinley's writing has the flavor of another century, and Beauty heightens the authenticity as a reliable and competent narrator.

I am in love with the story of Beauty and the Beast. It is my favorite fairy tale, and I tend to watch the Disney version of it over and over again. I simply cannot help it. So when I found this book randomly one day in Barnes and Noble, I thought it would be great.

However, I didn’t really like it. The writing was what kind of threw me off. There wasn’t much detail at all. I personally like a little bit of fluff, but Beauty didn’t seem to have any. It was more being told than being shown, which every writing teacher would frown upon.

The characters also weren’t very drawn out. You knew kind of what Beauty was like. She liked to read, she was giving, she was self-sacrificing. However, there wasn’t much more depth to her character. What about her thoughts, wishes, dreams? She seemed very two-dimensional to me. The Beast was also slightly two-dimensional. There is no depth to his character, and you don’t really see why he acts the way he does.

The details of the enchantment are also kind of vague. He’s under a curse, and you find out why. However, you don’t find out why he was the one it finally took hold of, or why he managed to control the servants or anything else. The curse however was a new twist and I did enjoy that.

Perhaps I’m just a sucker for the Disney movie version of this fairy tale, but this one didn’t really do it for me.

Who Might Like This Book:
Fairy Tale Lovers
People who love Robin McKinley
Lovers of all Beauty and the Beast Stories, not just Disney Movies

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