The Beast Within: A Tale of Beauty's Prince (Villains)

For anyone who loves Beauty and the Beast as much as I do this is a perfect book. It provides a very realistic understanding of the Beast ways while keeping the magic of the original story intact. Fully recommended.

I am such a fan of these books. I have all the books that I want to have as some of the villains series I do not want to have. One thing I will say in the description of this book it states the book is 256 pages. That is FALSE. This is one of the shortest books in the series covering 215 in its entirety. I do not know why there is false page numbers in this book description. I received the hardcover and the only other book that is close to being as short is “Fairest of them all” with page count being 250 for the paperback version (the version I have). That is the only complaint I have as this book gives a good backstory for the prince that became the beast. More story between Belle and the Beast is covered in twisted tales “As Old As Time” and other villains book “Kill the Beast” that is 424 pages long. I have that book but have not read it yet as there is an order that I want to read these books in. One thing is for sure for this series you should definitely get “The Odd Sisters” as that ties the whole series together and helps in understanding how certain things happen in the book. I just wanted to give a heads up to readers so they are not disappointed when they receive the book and see it is only 215 and not the 256 pages stated in the book description. I have included side by sides of the two “Beauty and the Beast” villain series books to show the difference in size and how the story must go on from Gaston’s perspective

A rather short and quick adaptation of Disney's original award-winning film, it does seem rather rushed. About halfway through the book, it starts to delve into the original storyline, but it hurries along very quickly, skipping over Belle's arrival at the castle and hurrying to her trespass upon the West Wing to her rescue from the wolf pack that attacks her in the woods. Swiftly within a few pages you find Belle fleeing to rescue her father from illness, and before you know it the book is already over with "The End." Most of the storyline is told from the third-person perspective of three of the witches that assisted in cursing the Beast who are hellbent on driving him mad and aiding Gaston in killing him. The first half is possibly the most interesting park because it's the most original and deviates from the original story the most. The Prince's origins are the most elaborated, adding twists that weren't there in the film. I would have loved this more if it were longer, like in the book "Maleficent." It just feels far too rushed. The second half of the book would have been far more entertaining were it from the Beast's third person perspective and not the evil witches'. It does make some references to other Disney characters in the Disney universe, and the reader will find that enticing. It really is a one-time read, though I'm a huge fan of the original, but I just wanted more from it. There seems to be a lot of missed opportunity from the author to take it to further reaches. If one sits down and really dedicates their attentions to it, it can be finished within a day or two. Belle's and Beast's romance could have been explored in-depth much more, but it's hardly touched upon and breezed through. I hope someday a better adaptation is written with far-reaching details and hope-fulfilling content. The reader will just find it lacking overall, though sometimes enjoyable here and there. Don't expect a masterpiece here. I wish the publisher, author, and editor had spent more time dedicated to making it what the fans would appreciate; they really missed a big opportunity here.

I am loving to read all of the backstories of the Disney stories I grew up with and loved. I am now addicted to this series. This story was well written and connected a lot of dots and I am now buying the next book

I bought The Beast Within: A Tale of Beauty's Prince as a birthday gift for a coworker who’s really into Disney villains, and it was a hit. The story dives deeper into the Beast’s backstory in a way that’s darker and more layered than the classic tale, which she loved. It has that twisted fairy tale vibe that villain fans tend to appreciate. The book itself looks great too—nice cover design and a solid build. If you’re shopping for someone who enjoys the villain side of stories, this is a fun and thoughtful choice.

After having read the one about the Evil Queen from Snow White, I had such high hopes for this book but was truthfully more than a little disappointed. I enjoyed the majority of the backstory given on the Beast, especially the segments regarding his former love and how his gradual transformation effected their relationship. It was interesting to see the contrast between this girl's character compared to what we know of Belle, but unfortunately, the story itself barely shows this contrast as Belle is hardly an active part of the story. The ending covered much of the events of the film but they were so rushed, and all seen from the perspective of three eavesdropping witches which were another issue I had with this story. Circe, the original enchantress, was a great character who I really enjoyed but her three meddling sisters were quite frankly just annoying. They reminded me of the Sanderson Sisters from Hocus Pocus except far less loveable. Plus, their presence pretty much took all of the meaning out of the story's character development. Instead of things happening due to the characters' own agency, these witches acted more like puppetmasters pulling the strings and making things happen which was outrageously unsatisfying. Another problem I had with this story was that part of the backstory involved the Beast and Gaston having grown up together and been best friends, only for the witches to cast a spell over everyone to forget any of that ever happened when the Beast begins to transform into the monster we know him as. This was also outrageously unsatisfying, and left me wondering what the point of that even was if it made no difference to the story? All in all, this book was decent and there were parts I did enjoy but the story in no way does justice to the original masterpiece of a film.

Once upon a time, there was Beauty and the Beast. We all know their story—the curse, the enchanted rose, and the love that overcame every challenge for a happy ending. But before all of that… there was a Prince. Have you ever wondered about the Prince's life before he became the Beast? This enchanting retelling explores the Beast’s perspective, delving into his fears and struggles as he holds on to the last traces of his humanity. It’s a journey through his past and present, uncovering the true meaning of love and offering a fresh take on a character you thought you knew. If you enjoyed The Fairest of All, this is a must-read! Serena Valentino weaves a magical twist packed with passion, enchantment, and unexpected turns. With familiar faces and new characters, this reimagining brings an emotional and unforgettable touch, breathing new life into the classic tale.

"The Beast Within" by Serena Valentino is a captivating retelling of Disney's iconic villain, the Beast from "Beauty and the Beast." Valentino's writing explores the complexities of characters often dismissed as evil, revealing the Beast's transformation and the circumstances that led him to become the tragic figure we know. The novel weaves between the Beast's past and present, revealing his life as a prince before his curse and pivotal moments that shaped him. Valentino's writing captures the essence of both the fairy tale's magical elements and darker themes of redemption and self-discovery. It showed the growth that the beast had. The Odd Sisters had me laughing.

Muy bonita su edición de pasta dura

I just received these books and just started reading the first one and I already love it a lot more to go but I definitely recommend this book

Habe es für meine Schwester gekauft, die ein großer disney fan ist und hab nur gutes gehört darüber. Da sie gut englisch versteht und es auch sehr interessant fand.

Loved reading this book; finished it in a day it was so good. Really detailed and if you love beauty and the beast this book is a good twist that you dont expect. I would also suggest reading a twisted tale tale as old as time; again a brilliant book with a good twist.

Chego em bom estado. E o livro é bom. Recomendo