The families in the novel are supportive and involved in their children’s lives. Beauty and Prince Riley are both sweet science nerds and their romance is chaste. While it isn’t my new favorite book, there are readers to whom Beauty and the Beast will appeal. It all amounts to a book that had too many elements for me to enjoy. Unlike the lonely beast that we picture from previous versions of the tale, Prince Riley’s family is made invisible, but do not lack in opportunities to add their voices to the story. In addition to a plot that is all over the place, there is an excess of dialogue. Beauty is fired pointlessly from several jobs and must go on a separate quest before her storyline begins to intersect with the prince’s. Since this is the third novel in a series, it must have found its market, but unfortunately, Beauty and the Beast, was not the book for me.

Other than that, the story sticks to traditional fairy tale tropes. And Prince Riley is the younger brother, not destined to run the kingdom, and perfectly content to do science experiments in the castle.

Sure, the beautiful girl is named Clarissa and she is the sister of our heroine, Beauty. So journey back to the time when fairy tales were real, and discover the story of Beauty and the Beast like you’ve never heard it before.ĭespite its modern cover, Wendy Mass’ Beauty and the Beast, The Only One Who Didn’t Run Away is set in the era of fairy tales, when beautiful girls live in thatched roof cottages in the woods and princes ride in carriages to visit other kingdoms. Before Beauty and Riley can save each other, they have to save themselves. And when Prince Riley suddenly grows fur, and nails as sharp as sticks, he has to learn that appearances can be deceiving. But what if you are none of those things? What if all you like to do is play the bagpipes (badly), study the stars, and try to figure out how to make worms live forever? Oh, and you also have a perfect older brother who is a lot more princely than you’ll ever be.īut when Beauty’s life turns completely upside down and she is forced to head out into the world, she has to figure out just who she wants to be. But what if you have none of these things? What if all you like to do is read books and search for odd objects that other people drop? Oh, and you have a perfect older sister who really should have had your name instead of you.Īnd when you’re a prince, you’re supposed to be athletic and commanding and brave and tall. When you’re stuck with the name Beauty, people expect a lot from you - like beauty and grace and courage and a sense of style. Wendy Mass tells the story of Beauty and the Beast, as never heard before!

Twice upon a time beauty and the beast