The Beast That Never Was

De: Caren J. Werlinger

Narrado por: Justine Eyre

What if Beauty was the Beast?

Lise’s father is dead, and the life of plenty and freedom that she has known as the daughter of the King’s Huntsman is gone. She must now live a life of duty to her mother and sisters, helping them to cope in their altered circumstances. But where her mother would have her wed a childhood friend to secure their future, Lise knows that is not what she longs for.

When she meets a mysterious woman in the forest, Lise feels the stirrings of emotions she cannot give voice to, but with this woman, she doesn’t have to say anything - Senna knows.

Cursed, hunted, and feared, Senna has been forced to wander from place to place for more years than she cares to remember. She gave up hope long ago that there could ever be an end to her isolation.

Odd sightings in the forest - monsters of legend come to life, old enemies back from the past, fearsome beasts on the prowl - begin to frighten the people of Lise’s village. Somehow, all of these things are connected to Senna. As the villagers’ fear grows, so does their hatred.

Senna prepares to flee, accepting what has become her fate, but Lise isn’t ready to give up her one chance for happiness. Soon, only Lise stands between the villagers and the woman she has grown to love.

©2016 Caren J. Werlinger (P)2019 Audible, Inc.

An amazing - and better - retelling of Beauty and the Beast

Excellent narration!

This is such a wonderful retelling of Beauty and the Beast. One of the better things about it is ow some people became better versions of themselves nearer the end. Of course, technically, as we know how BatB ends, The Beast That Never Was does that most of all.

Sweet Fairy Tale

This book is a sweet fairy tale. I enjoyed the story and the narrator. I raised my spirit, and put a smile on my face.

Beauty and the beast

This was a sapphic beauty and the beast retailing. Well written, interesting reimagining of an old story.

A delightful reimagining!

This was an inventive take on the Beauty and the Beast fairy tale. The narration was excellent. Highly recommended!

Classic fairytale remade into a lesbian romanc

Lise and her family have fallen into poverty after the death of her father. They are forced to move from the King’s Huntsman house and live in the forest, raising cows and making cheese. As the oldest of four daughters, Lise’s mother desperately wants to marry her off to the son of the King’s new huntsman. Lise grew up shadowing her father and would rather wear men’s clothes, hunt, and do traditional men’s work. She doesn’t want to marry a man, let alone one that she has considered a brother since childhood, all the while she is secretly pining after a woman in the village.

Sightings of ghosts, monsters and other objects of the villagers’ fears in the woods have put everyone on edge. Lise encounters the beautiful Senna, traveling through the same forest from her family’s farm to town to sell cheese.

Senna has been cursed to live alone in a house no one can see but her. Anyone she encounters triggers a painful metamorphosis into the object of each person’s fears, except for Lise. Hated and hunted, Senna has remained hidden and alone.

The book is a classic fairytale remade into a lesbian romance. By chance, two women find each other. Will their love change their fates?

What I liked:

I like the magical world of fairytales made over ‘lesbian style’ and wished I had these stories to read while growing up.

What some folks may not like:

The plot was straightforward and followed the pattern of traditional fairytales.

Summary:

I really enjoyed the story. It was more suspenseful than I would have imagined. Like Werlinger’s other books, there is a twist or two in the story to keep you on your toes. The narrator, Justine Eyre, did an excellent job. Her voice made the fairytale come to life.

Once upon a time, there was an author who wrote a fantastic lesbian fairytale. Everyone who listened to it lived happily ever after. The End.