After reading the first book in Melanie’s Beyond the Four Kingdoms series, I had high hopes for this second book. While I wasn’t as engrossed in this book as I was the first one, I did love it. Beauty and the Beast is my favorite fairytale, so I appreciated how A Tale of Beauty and Beast is comfortably familiar to the classic story while still being refreshingly unique.
Princess Sophia has helped her twin sister Lily save the duchy of Marin. But now Sophie faces an even greater threat when she sets out to free the cursed kingdom of Palinar from its beastly prince. Alone, and with danger on every side, Sophie must navigate a magical castle and its even more mysterious master to discover the secret to breaking the curse.
Except the more time she spends with Prince Dominic, the more she starts to question who exactly she’s supposed to be saving. With time running out for the trapped inhabitants, and the reappearance of an old enemy, Sophie may have to choose between saving the kingdom and following her heart.
In this reimagining of the classic fairy tale, Beauty and the Beast, Beauty will have to use all of her strength and intelligence if she is to outwit her enemies, break a curse and find true love.
If you enjoy clean romance, adventure and intrigue, then try the books in the Beyond the Four Kingdoms series now! These interconnected fairy tale retellings each feature a different princess who has to fight for her happily ever after.
As I said above, Melanie’s reimagining of Beauty and the Beast has all of the beloved and familiar elements from the traditional tale (particularly the Disney version), but she found clever ways to make it different. I loved the invisible servants, the enchanted mirror, and the way she portrayed the rest of the enchantment around the kingdom and the prince. And bravo to Melanie for taking that scene in the Disney version where the Beast gives Belle the library (AKA every book lovers DREAM!) and stepping it up about 10 notches! **cries tears of bookish happiness ** Ahhh, it was so sweet, and I now have a new dream library LOL!
Which brings me to the Beast, Prince Dominic, and his Beauty, Princess Sophie. Sophie was the perfect “Belle” character–she was sweet and compassionate, but brave and strong enough to handle all of the craziness that came with living in the enchanted castle. She couldn’t have been anymore well-suited for Dominic, who was very beastly to begin with, but eventually became perfectly lovable. **heart eyes** When he started becoming so protective of Sophie and began doing such kind and selfless things for her… I loved it!
Melanie also managed to make that “happily ever after” kiss moment even better than in the Disney movie, I think. I can’t say too much without there being spoilers, but I was on the verge of tears! Gahhh, it was so sweet!
If you love fairytale retellings, especially Beauty and the Beast ones, you will love this brilliant, sweet, and perfectly wholesome story! 5/5 Stars!
