Filled with magic and fierce emotion, Lisa Jensen’s multilayered novel will make you question all you think you know about beauty, beastliness, and happily ever after.They say Château Beaumont is cursed. But servant-girl Lucie can’t believe such foolishness about handsome Jean-Loup Christian Henri LeNoir, Chevalier de Beaumont, master of the estate. But when the chevalier’s cruelty is revealed, … chevalier’s cruelty is revealed, Lucie vows to see him suffer. A wisewoman grants her wish, with a spell that transforms Jean-Loup into monstrous-looking Beast, reflecting the monster he is inside. But Beast is nothing like the chevalier. Jean-Loup would never patiently tend his roses; Jean-Loup would never attempt poetry; Jean-Loup would never express remorse for the wrong done to Lucie. Gradually, Lucie realizes that Beast is an entirely different creature from the handsome chevalier, with a heart more human than Jean-Loup’s ever was. Lucie dares to hope that noble Beast has permanently replaced the cruel Jean-Loup — until an innocent beauty arrives at Beast’s château with the power to break the spell.
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It’s an amazing re-telling of Beauty and The Beast, it touches some sensitive topics and it shows how our main character lives through it and shows emotions that I feel can be realistic. I fell for the main character, Lucie, and how she develops her character.
This book seemed interesting, so I began to read it. As I was reading it, I found some of the events to be boring, and I was continually wondering when Jean-Loup was going to change into the Beast. I was wondering this because I know that is when Beauty and the Beast really starts to get interesting. When it did, I began to feel myself getting attached to the characters and I wanted certain scenarios to happen, including for the Beast to be with Lucie. I also found myself becoming more interested in the story and wanting to continue reading. While that may be the case, I did not mind putting the book down. I absolutely love the ending and I didn’t see the plot twists coming. It is an original story, and I could clearly picture the world inside this book. I understood it well, and I love how the characters bloomed. This book did not follow Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, incase you were wondering because it was my initial thought. It was actually original and interesting to read. I would recommend this book to people who love Beauty and the Beast, and who want to read a book about it to get to know the character’s emotions and internal thoughts.
Lucie initially thought her employer was handsome and dashing, but she quickly learned about his cruelty and selfish nature.
When Lucie is raped by her employer, her anger causes a curse and turns Jean-Loup into a beast.
The similarity to the traditional fairy tale pretty much ends there. Lisa Jensen puts her own spin to the story. But honestly, I liked the idea more than the actual story in this book.
Before beginning, let’s provide a trigger warning: there’s a rape scene early in the book. It is uncomfortable to read and highlights the viciousness that is the “prince.” It is not easy to get past this, but it does offer the story something tangible to attach his cruelty to. That being said, no, it is not going to be for everyone, especially not for rape survivors and not for young readers. It is a rough scene, no pun intended, and it is going to turn many people off.
That being that, it gives the story a little realism to attach to the prince, this cruelty that goes beyond just selfishness. Yes, the prince has always just cared about himself and has been cruel, but now there is something tangible to attach to the cruelty, and that will create emotion to the story. There are layers of emotion to the story as it twists the story, turning Lucie into the lamp, and watching the Beast develop. The character representation is fantastic, turning the tables on the beast. There is a sort of dissociative disorder going on here with two distinct personalities coming to life. Beast has no awareness of Jean-Loup, being the submissive personality, but as the story goes on and he becomes more aware of his ruthless personality. The dichotomy between the two characters is incredible and makes the novel stand apart from other retellings that are just about a guy learning to change his way. No here, it is about a good man overcoming the monster inside him. The story is about the Beast being the hero, the good guy, and not the Prince. He was always the mask, the monster, the real beast of the story. Moreover, that is what so compelling about the novel, to see this character develop and the story develops around him.
As far as stories go, it was interesting. It had a solid foundation and an exciting way to develop the protagonist while capturing the essence of the original beauty and the beast. So are so many elements that intermingle to tell this new version of the narrative, but there are also many shifts, Making Lucie the lamp was both intelligent and unique. It gives the story a new perspective to follow as it tells the story. The victim is the one who is telling the story, and that is what makes it interesting. Again, this is not going to be a story for everyone, but the empowerment that the victim gains, the power to recover and face the monster that hurt her, it is empowering to the reader. It shows character growth; it shows stability. Because of that, it is worth reading, to see how the story and the characters evolve.
I received an e-ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Review can be found on *Milky Way of Books*
Not only am I fan a hard-core fan of everything Beauty and the Beast related but also I enjoy books retelling the ‘tale as old as time’. Lisa Jensen’s second book of retelling characters from fairy tales deals with the Beast. If you haven’t read her book “Alias Hook”, do so. It’s amazing!
So here’s a trigger warning: there’s a rape scene early in the book. Although I read the ARC, I do hope that there’ll be a warning in the final copy.
Lucie is a poor village girl who becomes a chambermaid in JeanLoup mansion. I suspect that in historical times, the book takes place in the beginning of 19th century or so. There are lots of descriptions concerning the mansion, the servants and the life outside the mansion. And while Lucie at first has feelings for Jean-Loup Christian Henri LeNoir, Chevalier de Beaumont, they quickly shatter after that night.
Now here’s a reaction that I have seen aggravating many readers. Lucie thought that it was her fault and she feels ashamed to the point of going to commit suicide. Let’s backtrack. Pre-modern societies were harsh on women and especially women who lived in the countryside of the big European cities. In many occasions, a woman’s honor was the only playing card she had and of course, there was no pill or condom. A woman raped had no word over the word of a man, even if he was in a higher class than her.
In a way, I understand Lucie’s reaction, despite being wrong in today’s thinking. That’s why when she meets the mysterious old woman, she tells her that it wasn’t her fault and absolves her from the blame. From there the magic happens and the Chevalier turns into the Beast. BUT, there is a wonderful plot twist here, that made me love the book in the end very much.
I’m just going to say that it’s also for the fans who loved the Beast and not the Prince as much 😉
Recommended if you can bypass the trigger warning.
And of course I plan on re-reading or listening to the audiobook.