Book(s) Review - The Beast Within & Fairest of All
I haven't done a post since the 4th?! Geez I'm slacking! Please Lord don't let me be slacking!
I owe you guys a review on two books I have just recently finished and promised to do a post on, Serena Valentino's The Beast Within: The Story of Belle's Prince and Fairest of All: The Story of the Wicked Queen.
First let me tell you a little bit about the author, Serena Valentino actually does Comic books and has a passion for silent films. She lives in San Francisco and has a comic book series Gloom Cookie and Nightmare & Fairy Tales. She writes a series of novels for the Disney Press (that includes the books I'm doing the review on) and is currently writing her third one which will feature Ursula from The Little Mermaid! I'm so excited I can't wait!
First I'll start with Fairest of All: The Story of the Wicked Queen,
This is the first instalment of the series of books and out of the two was my most favourite ( I was surprised, I thought I would like the Beast story more). The story tells about the Queen's life, ( She didn't give her any other name before she actually became Queen) which is actually quite interesting and really makes you feel sorry for her, before she was Queen and how she turned "evil."
I don't know about anyone else but when I first watched Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs I had no idea what to think of the Queen. I knew she was evil and everything but I didn't understand why ( okay maybe I didn't EXACTLY think that because I was 4 when I first saw it but I did think it!). I didn't know why or how she became what she was or how she could be so cruel and mean towards Snow. I even wanted to know what the King saw in her! And this book answered all my questions! It was such a satisfying read. I felt content and sad after reading it and I know it's weird but I was happy.
This book gives your everything you need to know and more about the Queen. For such a small book you really get who the characters are and in a way feel sorry for the Queen. It's not a challenge to read which I feel is great for a fairy tale because if it was a challenge I feel you would lose your audience and the story the author has built.
I actually called this Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs - The Prequel. You can read my mini review right Here on the Chapters Indigo website!
5 out of 5 stars
The Beast Within: The Story of Belle's Prince,
The book gives a more in detail look on how the Prince from Beauty and the Beast turned into Beast. I'm sure we all have seen the movie or have heard the story, a spoiled Prince is approached by a old hag asking for shelter, he turned her away two times, the hag turned into an enchantress and puts a curse on him and all who lives in his castle and only if he can learn to love and receive love before his 21st year (the last petal on the rose) can the curse be broken.
I wasn't as satisfied with story as I was with the evil Queen. I don''t think the point is too feel sorry for the charatcers but I do feel you are suppose to feel something and I didn't in this story. It was funny and I did have a few chuckles but that was pretty much it. Not saying that the story wasn't good, it was! I believe Serena did her job in telling the Beast/The Prince's story before Belle and her father arrived but I do feel it missed something. It was shorter than the Evil Queen so maybe it needed more pages (joke). Again, also not a challenge to read but very enjoyable.
You can also read my review on Chapters Indigo Here!
3 out of 5 stars
Serena puts her own twist on the story while staying true to the original content from the movie. Instead of just one enchantress in the Beast's story there's three! and they're all sisters! It seems like in her stories that they are the ones that cause the characters to turn bad or are the reason the characters get into the situations they are in. They first appeared in the Evil Queen story giving the queen the magic mirror and her magical items that she uses. In the Beast Story one of the sisters almost marry the Beast!
I really enjoy when an author takes a story that is well known and adds elements that are completely different and make it work! It just makes reading the story that more enjoyable! Not only that but Serena actually has "cameos" in her books. Like how Stan Lee will make approx. 30sec. cameo in the marvel movies, in her books Maleficent is spoken of in the Evil Queen story and the Prince from Cinderella is mentioned in the Beast's story (that one is actually really funny!)
I really can't wait until her third instalment and I hope she does many others! I support and buy all her books!
Thank you for baring with this long post, I'm actually typing this while my Mom is driving! I hope I have interested you to read these books and buy them! And if not, buy them anyway! The art alone on the books are awesome!
I've started reading Lola and the Boy next door, it okay because I'm only at page 4. There is a book that has been on my mind for while now and I'm thinking about getting but you have to wait until another post for that.
PS: Don't know if you have noticed but Patch is wearing an Incredible's scarf. The Pixar movie directed by Brad Bird who also directed Disney's Tomorrowland! Kinda debating whether to see that movie, it's Disney so I probably should!
Be Bless!
I owe you guys a review on two books I have just recently finished and promised to do a post on, Serena Valentino's The Beast Within: The Story of Belle's Prince and Fairest of All: The Story of the Wicked Queen.
***This post might be a little lengthy and may contain spoilers!***
 |
| Patch is poking out his nose writing our second book review *I promise to take better photos* |
First I'll start with Fairest of All: The Story of the Wicked Queen,
This is the first instalment of the series of books and out of the two was my most favourite ( I was surprised, I thought I would like the Beast story more). The story tells about the Queen's life, ( She didn't give her any other name before she actually became Queen) which is actually quite interesting and really makes you feel sorry for her, before she was Queen and how she turned "evil."
I don't know about anyone else but when I first watched Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs I had no idea what to think of the Queen. I knew she was evil and everything but I didn't understand why ( okay maybe I didn't EXACTLY think that because I was 4 when I first saw it but I did think it!). I didn't know why or how she became what she was or how she could be so cruel and mean towards Snow. I even wanted to know what the King saw in her! And this book answered all my questions! It was such a satisfying read. I felt content and sad after reading it and I know it's weird but I was happy.
This book gives your everything you need to know and more about the Queen. For such a small book you really get who the characters are and in a way feel sorry for the Queen. It's not a challenge to read which I feel is great for a fairy tale because if it was a challenge I feel you would lose your audience and the story the author has built.
I actually called this Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs - The Prequel. You can read my mini review right Here on the Chapters Indigo website!
5 out of 5 stars
The Beast Within: The Story of Belle's Prince,
The book gives a more in detail look on how the Prince from Beauty and the Beast turned into Beast. I'm sure we all have seen the movie or have heard the story, a spoiled Prince is approached by a old hag asking for shelter, he turned her away two times, the hag turned into an enchantress and puts a curse on him and all who lives in his castle and only if he can learn to love and receive love before his 21st year (the last petal on the rose) can the curse be broken.
I wasn't as satisfied with story as I was with the evil Queen. I don''t think the point is too feel sorry for the charatcers but I do feel you are suppose to feel something and I didn't in this story. It was funny and I did have a few chuckles but that was pretty much it. Not saying that the story wasn't good, it was! I believe Serena did her job in telling the Beast/The Prince's story before Belle and her father arrived but I do feel it missed something. It was shorter than the Evil Queen so maybe it needed more pages (joke). Again, also not a challenge to read but very enjoyable.
You can also read my review on Chapters Indigo Here!
3 out of 5 stars
Serena puts her own twist on the story while staying true to the original content from the movie. Instead of just one enchantress in the Beast's story there's three! and they're all sisters! It seems like in her stories that they are the ones that cause the characters to turn bad or are the reason the characters get into the situations they are in. They first appeared in the Evil Queen story giving the queen the magic mirror and her magical items that she uses. In the Beast Story one of the sisters almost marry the Beast!
I really enjoy when an author takes a story that is well known and adds elements that are completely different and make it work! It just makes reading the story that more enjoyable! Not only that but Serena actually has "cameos" in her books. Like how Stan Lee will make approx. 30sec. cameo in the marvel movies, in her books Maleficent is spoken of in the Evil Queen story and the Prince from Cinderella is mentioned in the Beast's story (that one is actually really funny!)
I really can't wait until her third instalment and I hope she does many others! I support and buy all her books!
Thank you for baring with this long post, I'm actually typing this while my Mom is driving! I hope I have interested you to read these books and buy them! And if not, buy them anyway! The art alone on the books are awesome!
I've started reading Lola and the Boy next door, it okay because I'm only at page 4. There is a book that has been on my mind for while now and I'm thinking about getting but you have to wait until another post for that.
PS: Don't know if you have noticed but Patch is wearing an Incredible's scarf. The Pixar movie directed by Brad Bird who also directed Disney's Tomorrowland! Kinda debating whether to see that movie, it's Disney so I probably should!
Be Bless!
