Loved by the Beast by T.E. Elliott: Book Review

Details

• Genre: Historical fiction
• Series: The Beast’s Legacy (Book #1)
• Length: 291 pages (Kindle edition)
• Publication Date: January 1, 2020

Tropes

• Forced proximity
• Beauty and the beast

My Rating

Book Description

“What if the Beast Was Never a Beast? 

Audric and Léa have both grown up under the shadow of how others perceive them. One is seen as a Beast, the other a Beauty. Both long for something more—to be seen, to be known, to be loved for more than what is on the outside. When Léa is faced with the prospect of an arranged marriage or see her father imprisoned, it is a sacrifice she is willing to make. However, when she finds that the rumored beast is nothing more than a gentle and kind man with an excessively hairy exterior, she is faced with another decision. Can her heart respond to his love even when she has had no power of decision in her life’s story? 

Audric gave up on finding love long ago, so when his mother tells him she has made a match for him, he cannot help but be skeptical of her plans. The rumors he’s heard about himself since childhood have even him convinced he’s a beast and not worthy of the love of a woman. Should hope be rekindled or squashed entirely? Set in early 18th century France and based on the classic versions of the timeless fairy tale, with a hint of the beloved childhood favorite, this retelling explores the depths of what true love looks like and the lengths one is willing to go in its defense.”

— from Goodreads

My Review

An enjoyable story that combines the original tale, the Disney movie, and actual history. 

It’s terrible all that Audric had to suffer, through no fault of his own. His family and castle staff are kind and supportive. But such isolation would still be a heavy burden to bear.

I loved the stark contrast between Olivier and Audric. One is handsome, but an arrogant brute in terms of behavior. The other remains a true gentleman, despite being labeled an animal.

One aspect that most retellings don’t usually emphasize is how the “Beauty” of the story is often judged or treated differently because of her looks, just like the “Beast.” Audric is regarded as a monster, and Léa is seen as a trophy or a pawn.

This, plus their mutual love of reading, established a connection that only deepened as they got to know each other more. 

Their romance wasn’t sparks and instant attraction. Rather, a quiet, steady love that took time to fully bloom. 

Looking forward to the next book in the series, which centers on Audric and Léa’s daughter Rose.

Favorite Moments

🌹 Léa seeing Audric for the first time
🌹 comforting Léa
🌹 giving Léa a library
🌹 cocoa
🌹 the storm
🌹 the dance

Favorite Quotes

“‘Very well, Beauty,’ he emphasized the word with a sneer. ‘Don’t marry me. But you will come to regret the day you rejected a man for a beast.’

…’You are wrong, Olivier. I will not regret this day because today I rejected the beast for a man.’“

T.E. Elliott

“If all they see is my beauty, could there be something they are missing in the beast as well?“

T.E. Elliott

“Better to be wrong and be turned away, then be right and not be there for her.“

T.E. Elliott

“‘As for all those other men, she rejected every one of them even with their pretty looks and fine words….

‘So you’re not the most witty conversationalist but you have substance — the meat and potatoes rather than the dripping honey.’“

T.E. Elliott

“‘Well, one thing that I will never doubt is that you are indeed a man, a human being, and a good one at that. Anyone who says otherwise can’t be anything but wrong, no matter who it is that says it.’“

T.E. Elliott

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