This story has a captivating twist on the classic tale of Beauty and the Beast by introducing a gender swap, which undoubtedly adds a fresh perspective to the classic fairytale. However, the book is slowed down by an overwhelming number of characters and an array of subplots that ultimately muddle the storyline. The author’s attempts to weave in multiple perspectives and narratives dilute the focus on the central romance and character development. Had there been a stronger emphasis on the main plot and a more streamlined cast, this tale could have evolved into a truly enchanting and memorable story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Rebellion for providing the ARC.

So I actually didn't know that this was the second book in a series when I picked it up, but it definitely explains why I was just dropped into the story without much to go on in the beginning. Despite that, I do feel like there's enough there to pick up the context, so I didn't feel like I was completely lost.

This book doesn't take itself too seriously and it's playfully irreverent tone is really the selling point. It's charming and funny overall, but that's really as much substance as you get. I didn't get drawn into the tale which I found unusual since I love Beauty and the Beast retellings usually. But there wasn't enough about the characters that really kept my interest.

Plot and pacing were okay - about what you would expect from a fairy tale retelling, although I did find it interesting that there were three suitors instead of one. And that the beast seemed just as eager to be rid of the curse as her captives were to leave. Overall though, there just wasn't enough to capture me long term.

I read a lot of fairy tale re-tellings and I am always hopeful the author will surprise me with something new. This gender swapped version of Beauty and the Beast wasn't it. I had just finished a similar tale and that one was done better. I think I failed here in not reading the first book prior to getting this one. However, I just couldn't invest myself in the characters and ultimately it did not work for me.

Thanks to Solaris and Netgalley for this aRC.

Almost as charming as the first book, but got too lost in side plots at times. I would rather have had it more focused on Charming and Beast. However, it's still as fun to read as the first book, full of clever one-liners and irreverent references to fairy tales. Overall, despite the occasional wandering too far from the main story, I had a lovely time reading this and will continue keeping up with Jade Linwood's new releases!

This book is a reverse gender telling of beauty and the beast, it is the second book in the series and has the same characters as the first book with addition of the beast.

Prince Charming gets lost in the woods and stumbles across a house which is the home of the beast. There are numerous characters and povs in the story including princess from other fairytales.

I struggled with so many povs and would have enjoyed it more with just two or three. There were so many characters to keep track of in the story. I did like some of the princess and their views on modern feminism. I also enjoyed the romance between Prince Charming and the beast.

This book is a continuation of Jade Linwood's first book, Charming, and features nearly all of the same characters with the addition of the Beast. (So yes, please read Charming first.) It's a gender flipped version of Beauty and the Beast, but it also clearly combines aspects of many different fairytales.
The story follows Prince Charming, who--during a tumultuous journey in the woods to meet with a demon--stumbles upon the magical manor belonging to the beast, a former lady afflicted by a curse.

*Special thanks to NetGalley and Solaris for this digital e-arc.*

I managed to get to about 40% of this book. The premise drew me in. I liked the gender bending of this classical tales. On only wish the writing was tighter. This feels a bit YA in parts.

The cover is beautiful and I loved that it had my favorite classics. Beauty and the Beast and Red Riding hood.

Thank you for the arc.

This book goes in a lot of different directions and I found it hard to keep track of all the stories. I wish it focused more on Prince Charming and the Beast. Interesting take on gender bending but too much going on.

I received an arc from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I constantly promise myself not to request arcs for sequels when I haven't read at least one of the previous books in the series. I also constantly break that promise. When I saw this book I got curious and requested a digital review copy and luckily Solaris granted me one. I quickly caught up with the first book in the series and after finishing that one I was even more excited to read this sequel. I was absolutely hooked!

If you loved the first book in the series, you will without a doubt also love this sequel. All our favorite characters from the first book are present and we're meeting an entire new cast of characters. Which means that a lot of new fairytales are introduced too! I'm not gonna give away which ones, because it's much more fun to discover that on your own, but they fit in seamlessly and I love how the author mashes up these tales without making this one giant mess.

I also love that the author didn't fall into the "the prince is the worst person ever"-trap. We can all agree that it would have been great if he showed any kind of remorse in the first book, however, I'm glad that the author uses this book to flesh him out, to give him his own story and to show that he's, in a way, also only human. I loved reading his chapters. I loved watching him grow. I loved seeing him slowly changing into the person he can be.

And although the author changes the plot of quite a lot of fairytales in this novel, she does keep the important messages of these tales. The story is light hearted, the story is funny and entertaining and yet, in between the lines, there is a deeper layer. It actually feels like the author is simply presenting us with a new fairytale. A fairytale with characters we already know, but new plots and yet, at its core, still very much a fairytale. I can't wait for the next book!

Prince Jean-Marc Charming Arundel, aka Charming stumbles upon a mansion that is hidden and locked away by magic. There he meets Beast, a woman who has been cursed and two other men. On the other side of this magical forest, Princess Marie Blanche De Neige ( Snow White), Queen Ella de Braise, Bella Lucia dei' Sogni (sleeping beauty), Doctor Ranpuzel are trying to find Charming so that he can have a meeting with Mephistopheles in order to save several lives. Charming wants to help Beast break the curse and also make it to his meeting with Mephistopheles. We also encounter characters to the likeness of  Hansel and Gretel, Goldilocks and Red Ridding Hood. Will Charming help Beast break the curse and save everyone else from Mephistopheles and return the two trapped men to their feuding families?

Beast is a magical retelling that will have you rooting for the Beast, while also falling for Charming's witty and sometimes cynical charm.

Thank you Netgalley and Solaris for this magical retelling.

This was an entertaining read and the 2nd in the series. I'd highly recommend reading the first for context and a better understanding of half of the characters but, it isn't strictly speaking necessary.

In a world where Prince Charming does indeed charm and break the hearts of all the princesses (not a new concept but always a fun one) he finally meets his match in Beast. Charming has always been able to "break" any Princess's curse and now he's faced with the one curse he might not be able to break, as it requires for him to feel true love - something he hasn't experienced before. Can he break her curse and rescue himself, her and her other two suitors from the fae imprisonment they find themselves under? Or will Beast be stuck there forever and Charming disappear from her life without being able to remember her?

What to expect: magical shenanigans, cleverly renamed princess characters (it's easier to follow if you've read book 1 or are familiar with some of the European languages), forced proximity, opposites attract, rivalry for love....

3/5 stars

Would I read the next book in the series? Probably.

This one wasn't for me! I thought I'd give it a chance despite not really enjoying the first book, and that's on me. This just wasn't my style of disjoint fairy tale retelling, though I liked the concept! If you liked the first book, you'll probably like this one too.

Loved beauty and the beast, my second favorite princess. Was super excited to read this! Excited to continue reading the series!!!

Although I knew this was the second in a series when I picked it up, for some reason I thought it was a series of standalones connected by a theme. I also thought it was reality show-based, what with the whole "I choose you with a rose" thing. But guess what? I was wrong about both of those things! This book would probably work best if you read and enjoyed the first in the trilogy. (Also I now know it is a trilogy, because there are definitely plot threads left dangling at the end of this.)

All that aside, I did have a fun time reading this. My favorite part was watching Charming fall for the Beast: I would wait with bated breath for their chapters to come around. Because oh, did I not mention? There are at least 7 different POVs, and each chapter rotates to another one. I do think that if I'd read the first book, I might have been more interested in what Rapunzel or Bella were doing. But instead, I just wanted more with Charming and the Beast!!

So. This was fun! Approach with caution and read the first book! Enjoy :)

This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the novel.

Didn’t realize this was book two so I was very confused. The pace of the book was too fast. The author did too much telling and not enough showing. It was just jumping to the next plot point and never expanding. DNF at 30%

This story is all over the place. It's hard to keep up with with all the sub plots in each chapter. They do not add acting to the main plot of the book. I wanted to love this book as I live fairytale retellings. If the subplots were removed I think this book would be great
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I had a lot of fun reading *Beast*! 🐺🌹 This gender-flipped take on *Beauty and the Beast*, with its mix of romance, fantasy, and humor, was definitely a wild ride. Jade Linwood has such a creative way of weaving fairy tales together—I mean, who wouldn’t love a mash-up of *The Bachelor*, werewolves, and cursed mansions? The chemistry between Prince Charming and the Beast was a highlight, and the mansion's magical, eerie atmosphere made it such an immersive experience.

That said, I did struggle a bit with this one since I haven’t read the first book in the series. While the story explains a lot as it goes, I could tell I was missing some key context that would’ve helped me connect the dots. Also, there were so many side plots and characters—some of which were super fun but made it a bit chaotic at times. It felt like the main romance between Charming and the Beast didn’t get as much spotlight as I’d hoped, and I really wanted more depth in their relationship. The ending also felt a little rushed, leaving me with questions about how certain things wrapped up.

Even with those hiccups, *Beast* was a charming and quirky read. If you enjoy fairy tale retellings with a good dose of humor and creativity, this is one to try. Huge thanks to the publishers and Jade Linwood for the e-ARC💖🙏

Not my favorite beauty and the beast retelling but I really liked the fmc. She wasn’t the typical romantasy heroine which was really refreshing.

Fun, I didn’t love it quite as much as the third because Charming really was an ass in the first book and his redemption and guilt over his actions don’t quite ring true. But, hey, it’s a gentle fairly cozy fairytale retelling so roll with it! If you enjoyed the first book you’ll like this one too. It ends with a definite not of book three to come which I do definitely want to read after the first two.

Really struggled to get into this book, it felt scattered and disjointed.

It was an interesting take on the traditional story but it just wasn't for me