BEAST by Abigail Barnett is a different variation of BEAUTY AND THE BEAST. Johanna was scarred in fire that took the life of her father, brother, and many of their people. When Philipe learns of the fire and her disfigurement, he breaks their engagement. Now when Philipe is on the run from his father, the king, he seeks refugee in Johanna and her remaining brother, Wilhelm’s, home.

I liked this telling. Johanna is the one who is scarred. She holds onto Philipe’s betrayal to protect herself from feeling hope that he or any other man will want her. Philipe must face the fact of what he did to her 15 years earlier. He has to learn that physical beauty is not enough to hold a couple together. He must learn how to love. She fights him all the way. If he can get her to love him again he knows that love with be worth the horrors and fighting of the past. He is also aware that he is unworthy of her love and no matter how many apologies he gives it does not make up for what he did. There was a very fine line that had to be maneuvered so that the story did not lapse into pity parties and deep bitterness. Abigail Barnett did well to keep the story and emotions tightly written so that, as in the fairy tale, love could blossom again. I liked that they were not youthful but going towards middle age and that both had struggles that gave them strengths of character with which they could build a relationship. I also liked how both had to give up their youthful idealism and face reality to build that relationship.

At times the story seemed to be missing scenes. There is an incompleteness as they relive the past. A longer story would have helped with that. I also felt that Johanna went from shrew to lover quicker than her character would have allowed. Again a longer story would have given Ms. Barnett more opportunity to develop the change in her feelings. Philipe’s emotional growth was done better as he struggles with the past, his weakness, and the present.

This is a good telling of BEAUTY AND THE BEAST especially if you want something different and unique. ( )