June 5, 2013

Waiting on Of Beast and Beauty by Stacey Jay

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine that spotlights any upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Publication Date: July 23, 2013
In the beginning was the darkness, and in the darkness was a girl, and in the girl was a secret...

In the domed city of Yuan, the blind Princess Isra, a Smooth Skin, is raised to be a human sacrifice whose death will ensure her city’s vitality. In the desert outside Yuan, Gem, a mutant beast, fights to save his people, the Monstrous, from starvation. Neither dreams that together, they could return balance to both their worlds.

Isra wants to help the city’s Banished people, second-class citizens despised for possessing Monstrous traits. But after she enlists the aid of her prisoner, Gem, who has been captured while trying to steal Yuan’s enchanted roses, she begins to care for him, and to question everything she has been brought up to believe.

As secrets are revealed and Isra’s sight, which vanished during her childhood, returned, Isra will have to choose between duty to her people and the beast she has come to love. (Goodreads)

It should now be obvious to anyone who reads my posts that I adore retellings. Fairy tales, folklore, myths, classic literature, you name it. There's just something so fascinating in seeing how an author is able to use a well-known story as inspiration for a new one. 

With that being said, I am not sure whether I've made it as well known that the "Beauty and the Beast" fairy tale holds a special place in my heart. I have researched the tale in depth and examined how the story has evolved over the years for a thesis. It's incredible the amount of information I found out on it, and I treasure each opportunity to read another retelling of the story. 

I've heard good things about Jay's retellings of Romeo and Juliet, Juliet Immortal and Romeo Redeemed. Knowing that Jay has already done retellings, and that she has now chosen one of my favorite stories to retell, makes me super excited for Of Beast and Beauty's release. Her retelling sounds like it will take a more political stance, so I'm eager to see how she incorporates politics into the spine story, as well as to be introduced to two new incarnations of "Beauty and the Beast."

What are you waiting on?
author image

Amanda

Amanda loves few things better than sitting down with a cup of tea and a book. She frequently stays up far too late, telling herself she just needs to finish one more page. When she's not wrapped up in the stories of others, Amanda works as a children's librarian in a public library.

16 comments:

  1. I'm also excited for this book, and I've always loved the Beauty and the Beast fairy tale above all others! I love that you picked this fairy tale to research for your thesis, and I remember looking through the library books you had checked out in your dorm room. :P And that cover is gorgeous! My eyes can't help but go to it. Great pick!

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    1. You should read my thesis. Fascinating stuff. (And I'll read yours. I keep forgetting about it, but I really do want to!)
      And that is a really pretty cover, too.

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  2. I'm SO excited for this one. I'm a total sucker for retellings too and this one sounds amazing. You have a great back story to it as well.

    My WoW

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    1. It does! Fortunately we don't have too much longer to wait!

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  3. I'm excited for this one, too. I'm a huge fan of re-tellings myself. I love that you did your thesis on Beauty and the Beast. That is such a great project. I love it when you are able to do academic writing on something you are personally invested in. Great pick!
    New follower via GFC. I'd love it if you'd follow back.
    Natflix&Books' WoW

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    1. Thanks! It was a lot of fun! :) And it has inspired me to do solo research stuff because I'm nerdy like that lol. But really retellings are so interesting to study.

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  4. Like you, I've heard great things about this author's other works, but am not too keen on picking those up. I am REALLY excited for this, though, so I hope it's good! :)

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    1. Oh really? Just cause you're not interested in the subject matter of her past works?
      And you and me both, Keertana!

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  5. This looks good. I'm a fan of retellings and this one sounds quite different.

    Sarah

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  6. Fairytale retellings can be very hit and miss for me, but I've also heard good things about this author's previous books, so I'm definitely curious about this one. I do really like the cover too! Brilliant pick. :)

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    1. Thanks! And I do hope this one ends up being a hit for you!

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  7. I adore re-tellings, too! And I just love Beauty and the Beast - one of my fave fairytales! I am so excited for the release of this book. Great pick! ^^

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    1. It's a wonderful fairy tale! My favorite as well. Thanks!

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  8. Oh I love the cover to this! I haven't had much luck with retellings in the past, but Of Beauty and Beast does sound like it has the potential to deliver an excellent read. I hope it meets your expectations Amanda! :)

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    1. Thanks, Jasprit! I hope you get lucky if you decide to read this one as well!

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