Elements: magic, bonding
Rating:
- Characters - 5 - The characters are an excellent mix of historical and fairy tale, with just a dash of Disney thrown in. Each is interesting and unique in their own ways.
- Setting - 5 - The locations take into account not only historical France, but also the effect of previous ages on the characters' present.
- Plot - 5 - A fantastic combination of the original French folktale and the best of the Disney version, not to mention a strong sprinkling of the Author's own ideas.
- Genre Elements - 5 - There is so much here. The Classic world struggling to the modern age; magic; fairy tale elements; and of course, romance. All excellently used to effect the flow of the story.
- Voice - 5 - The only time I wasn't absolutely certain who was speaking was once toward the beginning of the story, and that very quickly resolved itself. Outside of that experience, all the character voices are incredibly distinct, and it is incredibly easy to know who is speaking.
- Romance Elements - 5 - Slow and gradual is a fondness of mine, and the way this one builds along with the unraveling of the mystery is perfect.
- Overall - 5 - Definitely an excellent story. I highly recommend it.
The fairy tale of Beauty and the Beast with a single change--what if Beauty's brother (a character which does exist in some versions of this tale) had taken his sister's place as the Beast's hostage/sacrifice after their father stole the rose?
My thoughts -
I love fairy tales, especially those that reflect the pre-Disney tradition. This one manages to encompass that as well as some of the changes Disney made to the tale, but still manages to make this version all its own. The change of the Main Character from Female to Male is completely natural, and unlike most slash fairy tales, actually uses a character from some of the original versions, instead of simply changing the original character to a male.
Even more, Kodora goes well beyond simply borrowing from other versions of this story. The magic of this world is all its own, and well thought out, making it one of the most unique versions of this story I have read. The mystery of how to save Beast is compounded by the slow-building homosexual love story, given that "true love's kiss" apparently needs to come from a girl. While this might strike some readers as an anti-gay sentiment, in actuality, it gives the author a chance to make a statment about acceptance from within and without.
There were a few bits toward the beginning of the story that felt a little cliched or slow, but they truly fit the world the Author builds up around these characters, and both feelings quickly faded as the story found its voice. Truly, as a fairy tale, a few cliches are to be expected, and even needed. And in this story, they are used to great effect, rendering them far less cliched than they might otherwise be.
Warnings -
This one's pretty safe for most readers, though the two main characters do struggle with depression each on their own. They also each have the tendency to show their temper, leading to a few slightly scary moments.
Overall Recommendation -
This one is perfect for those who love fairy tales, Disney or not. This is also a good one for those who like romance, but don't like it to come easily. Definitely a top recommendation.
Link to the story - Brendan and the Beast (free on AO3)
Author Link - Czarina_Kodora @ AO3
If you liked this story, try -
- Cinder by Gryvon (AO3) (read my review here)
- Cinder by Marie Sexton (Goodreads Page) (read my review here)
- Dream of a Thousand Nights by Shira Anthony (Goodreads Page) (read my review here)
- The Mist Behind and the Light Before by Cathalin (AO3)
- The Fairest in the Land by LuccaAce (FictionPress - unfinished story)
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