Hunted by Meagan Spooner
Synopsis
When Yeva's father loses all his wealth, he moves her and her two older sisters out to their cabin in the woods. There, her father begins to obsessively hunt a mysterious creature that belongs in myths and fairy tales. When he disappears, Yeva knows she must find the Beast, and kill him. But as she's drawn into this strange, magical world, she discovers things aren't quite what they seem.
Review
A fantastic and dark Beauty and the Beast retelling, mixed with Russian folklore, where Beauty is actually hunting the Beast.
The story takes place was in medieval-ish Russia, though we're never told that outright, just through historical hints and the names of characters and the stories told. The woods and forest are the main setting, and they are beautiful and haunting in their icy winter glory, with magical creatures hidden just out of sight.
All the characters were so well done. Even minor characters were fleshed out just enough to make them stand out from the pages. Yeva is brave but kind. She is strong and capable, hunting to support her family, but she has her flaws that she works to overcome. She constantly feels torn between her love and duty to her family, and her longing for something greater. I enjoyed seeing the story unfold from her viewpoint. At one point she does act super naive, which had me rolling my eyes a little, but I guess it worked for plot purposes.
We get occasional glimpses into the Beast's point of view, but we mostly see his character through Yeva's eyes. He is also conflicted, torn between two warring sides within him, and is much more than he seems. Also, the reason behind his curse is much better than "he was a brat and ticked off a witch". The author even addresses the Stockholm Syndrome aspect (where the captured/abused defends their captor/abuser) that bugs so many people about this story, and works her way around it in the story
The relationship between Yeva and the Beast is the driving force behind this story, as they grow and develop with each other. They become partners, recognizing the similarities between their two situations, and from that a friendship and trust grows. The romance is actually a very small part of the story, only coming into play right at the end.
For the most part, this book is about want, that constant longing for something more. It's about finding happiness and being content with life, because neither Yeva nor the Beast are. Yeva constantly wants something new and different and thinks, "When I'm there, then I'll be happy", only to arrive "there" and still not be satisfied. It's a feeling I've had in my life, and I related instantly to her character and this theme of the book.
The writing was beautiful. Seriously such wonderful prose. And the plot was well-paced. It kept me interested even when things slowed down.
Oh, and the best thing? It's a stand alone novel, meaning you don't have to wait for a sequel! You get the whole story in one book!
Overall, a beautiful mix of bravery, love, and fairytale magic. Highly recommend.
Rating
I give this book 4 stars.
When Yeva's father loses all his wealth, he moves her and her two older sisters out to their cabin in the woods. There, her father begins to obsessively hunt a mysterious creature that belongs in myths and fairy tales. When he disappears, Yeva knows she must find the Beast, and kill him. But as she's drawn into this strange, magical world, she discovers things aren't quite what they seem.
Review
A fantastic and dark Beauty and the Beast retelling, mixed with Russian folklore, where Beauty is actually hunting the Beast.
The story takes place was in medieval-ish Russia, though we're never told that outright, just through historical hints and the names of characters and the stories told. The woods and forest are the main setting, and they are beautiful and haunting in their icy winter glory, with magical creatures hidden just out of sight.
All the characters were so well done. Even minor characters were fleshed out just enough to make them stand out from the pages. Yeva is brave but kind. She is strong and capable, hunting to support her family, but she has her flaws that she works to overcome. She constantly feels torn between her love and duty to her family, and her longing for something greater. I enjoyed seeing the story unfold from her viewpoint. At one point she does act super naive, which had me rolling my eyes a little, but I guess it worked for plot purposes.
We get occasional glimpses into the Beast's point of view, but we mostly see his character through Yeva's eyes. He is also conflicted, torn between two warring sides within him, and is much more than he seems. Also, the reason behind his curse is much better than "he was a brat and ticked off a witch". The author even addresses the Stockholm Syndrome aspect (where the captured/abused defends their captor/abuser) that bugs so many people about this story, and works her way around it in the story
The relationship between Yeva and the Beast is the driving force behind this story, as they grow and develop with each other. They become partners, recognizing the similarities between their two situations, and from that a friendship and trust grows. The romance is actually a very small part of the story, only coming into play right at the end.
For the most part, this book is about want, that constant longing for something more. It's about finding happiness and being content with life, because neither Yeva nor the Beast are. Yeva constantly wants something new and different and thinks, "When I'm there, then I'll be happy", only to arrive "there" and still not be satisfied. It's a feeling I've had in my life, and I related instantly to her character and this theme of the book.
The writing was beautiful. Seriously such wonderful prose. And the plot was well-paced. It kept me interested even when things slowed down.
Oh, and the best thing? It's a stand alone novel, meaning you don't have to wait for a sequel! You get the whole story in one book!
Overall, a beautiful mix of bravery, love, and fairytale magic. Highly recommend.
Rating
I give this book 4 stars.
Details
Genre: YA, Fantasy.
Language: None.
Sex: None.
Violence: Very mild, mostly hunting scenes.
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