Of Beast and Beauty

By: Stacey Jay

Narrated by: Julia Whelan

It's pointless. Hopeless. Even if she weren't afraid of me, we'll always be enemies at the core....

In the city of Yuan, the blind Princess Isra is raised to be a human sacrifice. Her death will ensure her city's vitality. In the desert, a mutant beast named Gem fights to save his people, known as the Monstrous, from starvation. Neither dreams that together they can return balance to their worlds. When Gem is captured for trying to steal Yuan's enchanted roses, he becomes a prisoner of the city. Isra enlists his help and soon begins to care for him - and to question everything she has been brought up to believe.

She's a queen; I'm her prisoner. I am her monster and she is mine.

©2013 Stacey Jay (P)2015 Tantor

Critic reviews

"There is a personal, romantic side to their struggle, but it's the ideological, cultural, and cosmic perils that threaten to overwhelm them." ( Publishers Weekly)

Unexpected Love

I loved this book! Isra and Gem are both loveable characters as the story and their personalities and laid out and grow. I didn't want it to end. The voices were great too!

Really enjoyed the narration

The story was solid, interesting and the only reason I tried this one is because I enjoyed another book that had used Julia Whelan as the voice talent. Really pleasant to listen to. Just came across Stacey Jay, she has a nice way of building relationships and worlds and creating stories that wrap up in a book instead of long drawn out series and frustrating cliffhangers - those have their place - but it was nice to listen to one complete story in one book.

Good ending!!

I loved this book. It's a very unique version of beauty and the beast that is entertaining from the first word to the last. It's also one of the few books that has an actual ending not an open ending that leaves room for a possible sequel. It is final and gives you closure. I highly recommend this to anyone looking for a good listen!

Beautifully written

A beautifully written re-telling of the story Beauty and the Beast. I very much enjoyed listening to it. Highly recommended!

Beautiful world building

Beautiful world building. Addictive story about oppression, racism, and sheltered existence. The romantic sub plot lacked sufficient development, but it has some steamy moments non the less. I was captivated by the world, mythology, and political structure of the planet they inhabited. Maybe because I visualize Bo as the same Bo for Korra, but in the end I felt bad for him and was touched by his last moments of courage.