Beauty Reborn

By: Elizabeth Lowham

Narrated by: Taylor Meskimen

Length: 6 hrs and 8 mins

Publisher's summary

Fantasy and reality collide in this retelling of Beauty and the Beast about a young woman’s heroic quest to save herself.

Yes, I went to the woods to save my father. But I also went hoping I would be eaten by the Beast. Because I didn’t think anything else could save me.

Beauty’s life is the stuff of fairy tales. The youngest in her family, Beauty isn’t trying to catch Stephan’s eye. He is the lord baron’s heir, well above her family’s modest station, but when he kisses her hand at a party, Beauty is swept away by his charm, his wit, and his passionate declarations of love.

Hearts can be untamable creatures, especially when touched by the fires of first love, and Beauty doesn’t see the truth of Stephan’s intentions until it is too late. Until he stops asking for Beauty’s love—and simply takes it from her one night despite her refusal.

Beauty locks away the secret of what happened to her, and when her father emerges from the enchanted forest with a stolen rose in his hand and the tale of a vicious beast on his breath, Beauty seizes the chance to run as far from Stephan as possible.

She has some experience with beasts, after all. Certainly the one in the forest couldn’t be any worse than the one she’s already encountered.

Breaking the Beast’s curse might be the key to discovering her own path to healing—and finding the courage to allow herself to feel reborn.

©2023 Elizabeth Lowham (P)2023 Blackstone Publishing

Best Retelling Yet

I love the story of Beauty and the Beast and look forward to finding new versions. Elizabeth Lowham's retelling is not only true to the original but adds new elements to make it fresh and new.

Spectacular

This clean romance was so fun to listen to! The narration was perfect & the story had all of the adventure, romance, & unexpected twists & turns to keep me enthralled! What a wonderful book!

Lovable and captivating

I started listening while thinking that I didn't really have time, but I'd just see how it was. I ended up finishing it in just a couple of days. Great twist on the classic story, with characters each taken to their proper ending. I loved Beauty and passing this time of growth and healing with her. Excited to see what this author has coming next!

Sweet and Thoughtful.

This book was much sweeter then I thought it would be. I sometimes feel like certain subject matter makes for a heavy type of book. It didn't feel too heavy. It was very well told and there was a gentle sweetness throughout.

This was a really good retelling of the original story. The author really thought through the charecters and the story in general. I felt like this retelling actually made the original fairy tale make even more sense.

I really enjoyed this audio book.

Perfect tale for imperfect people!

I went into this as a childhood acquaintance of the author, thinking I'd be doing her a favor. Help her get her book out to more people. Most friends I've seen write honestly weren't that great, so I was prepared for a bit of a cliche retelling that was trying to be edgy.

I thoroughly underestimated Liz. From the opening lines to the final chapter, I was progressively floored by her writing. Her world-building, even if kept short and to-the-point, reminded me of Fablehaven in the darker elements of magic at play. I was surprised with how clean the story was, yet how grim and devastating the events the characters had to go through. Liz handles the delicate subject matters at play very sensitively, yet illustrates succinctly what PTSD feels like, to be sent drowning in a traumatic past by a mere word or touch. Liz did such an excellent job with her tragic elements that I was genuinely unconfident if there would be a happily ever after to this fairy tale.

There were so many happy moments on the journey, however, and the happinesses that are present at the end are hard-earned. The dynamic between Beauty and Beast was such a treat! It wasn't lost on me how the normally problematic elements of the Beauty and the Beast fairy tale were all-but-missing--namely, this Beast places high worth on consent, making it crystal clear often and consistently that Beauty can leave anytime she wants to, that he never wishes harm to her and actively cares for her well-being.

I did take issue with Beauty's somewhat quick acceptance and oversight of the circumstances surrounding her coming to the castle. I understand that it was an escape for her to an extent rather than a punishment per se, but she seemed too quick to see the goodness of the Beast and forgive him for the sentence he placed on her father in the first place for the rose. A small qualm, but I felt I needed to say both the good and the bad I saw with the book.

I loved Beauty's family dynamic. None of Liz's characters are black-and-white, each with their own inner beauty and ugliness. Any love present, familial or otherwise, feels thoroughly real and complete, loving people not in spite of their flaws, but because of exactly who they are, and embracing change as it comes.

One thing I extremely enjoyed was Beauty's and Beast's intelligences. Their love was cerebral, their chemistry was fantastic. I had an intellectual high reading this book.

Highly recommend this novel to any lovers of romance, darkness, light, questions, and magic.

Loved it

Wonderful retelling of beauty and the beast! 10/10 would recommend for all to read!

Original and Captivating Retelling of a Classic

I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this novel, from its engaging characters to its surprisingly delightful twists on a familiar tale.

true to the character of beauty and the beast

It was a great story true to the idea behind thetory while adding elements to make it original. I liked that he was willing to stay a beast if she needed him to.

Whimsy, clean romance, and MC trauma blend perfectly for a retelling that will pull on your heart

Beauty’s journey through her story is a triumphant arc. She overcomes feeling alone and different, outcast, and even, with the help of those who love her, is able to also overcome horrible trauma. Lowham has created a retelling that is impactful and beautiful. I cried for the character as we learned of her past, laughed with her and Beast as they played with wooden swords and read books, held my breath as the fairy tried to trick characters and smiled with joy as the story came to its happily ever after. This story is definitely worth your time. I would love to read/listen to any other retellings Lowham may write in the future.

Moving take on the tale as old as time

The author and narrator delivered a smooth, character driven, and philosophically engaging story. High quality work and absolutely worth your time.