The Beast

By: Donna Napoli

Narrated by: Robert Ramirez

Young Persian Prince Orasmyn lives a peaceful life of quiet duty and thoughtful obedience. Tending his fragrance garden gives him much more pleasure than the bloody royal hunts staged by his father. But a single wrong decision sets in motion an ancient curse that changes Orasmyn's fate forever. Told he will be killed by his own father, he is transformed into a lion on the day of a great hunt. The prince has no choice but to flee beloved Persia and his precious family. Balancing his fading human memories with his new beastly impulses, he makes his way to Europe - where his destiny awaits in the person of a French beauty named Belle.

Donna Jo Napoli once again weaves the magic she has shown in books like Crazy Jack and Zel , transforming a well-known fairy tale into an unforgettable epic of duty, love, and redemption. Robert Ramirez's narration captures all the anguish and struggle of Orasmyn's quest to regain his humanity.

©2000 Donna Jo Napoli (P)2001 Recorded Books, LLC

Lacking emotion

There were some very interesting things about this story - descriptions of Persia and the POV of a lion, but altogether I found the story one-sided and lacking something. It also ends abruptly and I was curious to know what happens next.

Fairytale from Persia to France

This tale is of a man turned beast and his life as a beast with many of the sensitivities of a man. Some scenes are too graphic for young readers yet the story has themes of redemption, trust, and fear that are applicable to any age.