"It was a beast, and yet not a beast. A man, yet not a man. It stood tall on two legs and was clothed in a long coat and boots. It's intelligent eyes were of a tigerish glowing amber, set in a hairy face like a bear's; it had a tawny mane like a lion's, while its open mouth displayed teeth as white and sharp as a wolf's. I knew at once what it was though I'd never before heard of one that could take such a mingled form. Abartyen."
Scarlet in the Snow by Sophie Masson has all the classic elements of Beauty and the Beast (which has always been one of my favorite fairy tales): a man who's now a beast, a magical curse, an evil sorcerer, and a spunky heroine who has no idea what story she's just stumbled into.
"I was merely a pawn in a plan whose outline I couldn't yet glimpse. I had no magical powers, no special distinction, no great beauty or extreme cleverness. I was an ordinary girl with a small talent in storytelling, that was all. And how could that help me now?"
For Natasha, it's not just about escaping Ivan, the abartyen, or his enchanted castle. It's not even about befriending him. Or falling in love. It's about breaking his curse, and then still having to rescue him from the evil sorcerer who's got him imprisoned somewhere. That quest leads her to Old Bony, the witch of the forest, and then to the city of Champaine where she must search out Ivan's true identity, even though she doesn't know anyone there, or speak the language. Oh, and she has to figure out who the sorcerer really is, too. Good thing she doesn't give up easily...and that she has a little magical help along the way.
This is definitely Natasha's story, not the beast's. He's relegated to the background for most of the book, but Natasha is such an independent and enchanting heroine I didn't mind. And her adventure to find and rescue Ivan is both entertaining and fun. I love a book with a good happy ending as much as I love a good fairy tale retelling, too. Masson's book is both.
Happy Reading!
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You make every book sound so good. I read Scarlet in the Snow' a while back and I enjoyed the beginning, even the middle where it seems like nothing much is going on but the ending was a bit of a letdown for me.
ReplyDeleteI still have yet to read 'The Beast's Heart' but I've read the other two books and I loved those.
Have a lovely day.
Hi, Lissa. I think you'd really like The Beast's Heart. It's told from the beast's POV, and is done so well!
DeleteThanks for sharing! Beauty and the Beast is my favorite fairytale, too. Have you read Robin McKinley's "Beauty"? I read that a couple of years back and enjoyed it.
ReplyDeleteMcKinley's Beauty is my absolute favorite version of Beauty and the Beast! :D
DeleteI'm a big fan of fairytale retellings, Beauty and the Beast ones most of all, so this is definitely going on my wishlist. :)
ReplyDeleteI think you'd like this version. :)
DeleteThe Robin McKinley has always been my favorite version, too.
ReplyDeleteIt's so good, isn't it? I reread it a lot. :D
DeleteI loved Robin McKinley's re-telling, too. Beauty and the Beast is my favorite fairytale, so I'm always interested in re-tellings. I'll have to check this one out. :)
ReplyDeleteIt's different from the traditional storyline, but I thought it was a fun read. And I liked Natasha. :)
DeleteI like Beauty and the Beast retellings. This sounds great.
ReplyDeleteI really like Beauty and the Beast retellings, too. :)
DeleteSounds like a great retelling!!!
ReplyDeleteIt was different and fun. :)
DeleteI'm not much of a fan of retold fairy tales but I always make an exception for Beauty and Beast, love it.
ReplyDeleteThere's just something about that particular fairy tale! It's a story that doesn't get old for me.
DeleteI love a good retelling, and this one is actually new to me so I'll have to check it out. :)
ReplyDeleteYeah, see if you like it! :)
DeleteRetellings are fascinating to me--I love the way different authors interpret and re-invent a classic fairy tale. Adding this to my list!
ReplyDeleteI like how they sometimes combine two different stories into one, or take a version from a different country and make it new. They're always fun to read in that regard. :)
DeleteI haven't ever tried a fairy tale retelling, although I have thought it might be interesting. I had heard about Robin McKinley's books because I am a fan of her husband's books (Peter Dickinson).
ReplyDeleteHer book Beauty is one of my all-time favorite books! It's definitely the best version of Beauty and the Beast. :D
DeleteI love fairytale retellings. Like Jenclair, I like the way how authors spin a different story from a classic fairytale and it's always interesting to read where the new story will take us. :)
ReplyDeleteI like that about them, too. Each version is always so different. :)
DeleteThis sounds wonderful - I love fairy tale retellings. Beauty and the Beast is also one of my favorites!
ReplyDeleteIt's such a great story! And if you never read Beauty by Robin McKinley you need to; it's the best retelling of Beauty and the Beast ever. :D
DeleteI don't read a lot of re-tellings but I like the sound of this one! I mean who can resist a fairy tale right?
ReplyDelete:D I obviously can't!
DeleteI think there will always be an eager audience for fairy tale re-tellings. And why not? They aren't written in stone in the first place.
ReplyDeleteThe only ones I have read, other than Angela Carter is the YA series, the Lunar Chronicles which takes on Cinderella, Snow White, Rapunzel AND Little Red Ridinghood.
I'll have to check that series out. It sounds like fun. :D
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