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thanaetos's review
4.0
read this again bc i was feeling poopie and also this is one of my fave historical romance book!!!
lisajo85's review
5.0
Teresa Medeiros spins a classic ‘Beauty and the Beast’ fairytale that any aspiring princess would love. With mystery, humor and romance, The Bride and the Beast is a beautifully enchanting and well written tale.
The Highlanders of Ballybliss are being held captive in their own village. They have been terrorized by a dragon because of a horrible deed one of the villagers committed years ago. The dragon that lives in the Castle Weyrcraig makes demands and the villagers have no other choice but to comply or else great tragedy will occur. One night, the price the dragon asks them to pay is to high, so they see no other choice but to sacrifice a virgin to their horrible tyrant.
Gwendolyn Wilder is that virgin.
Poor Gwendolyn is tied to a stake in the courtyard of the castle when the dragon comes out to collect her. Gwendolyn does not believe the dragon really exists, and discovers what she has always believed, that the dragon is nothing more than a man. A flesh and blood man bullying the poor villagers. Still, he never once shows his face to her and never reveals his identity. Gwendolyn wants nothing more to flee this place and return to her family but the longer she stays with the dragon and the more she learns about him the less unsure she is about where she really wants to be. And the terrifying dragon? Well, he’s not sure he has the strength to let Gwendolyn walk out of his life anymore either.
This story was witty, charming and a delight to read. Teresa Medeiros creates a strong heroine who is brilliant and intelligent. Still, despite all that she doesn’t know her own worth, so her insecurities allows many people to take advantage of her. When matching wits against the dragon, she is sassy and full of life, but she is unprepared for his kindness towards her. They develop this connection and this kinship that is comforting to both of them, but they don’t understand why. Not knowing his identity or seeing his face is disconcerting to Gwen, but it also fascinates and intrigues her. Their attraction is something she can’t seem to escape from and something she cannot explain. If they were not learning more about each other, they shared a playful banter that will have you laughing out loud many times throughout the book.
She could almost see herself from his point of view - a juicy morsel with its feet flailing helplessly in midair as it dangled half in and half out of the window...not only could she not move forward - she couldn’t move backwards either....
“I do believe you forgot your parasol, Miss Wilder,” he called out, running one finger down the frilly umbrella. “I’m afraid you’ll find it far more difficult to float to the ground without it.”
“I was hoping to dash myself to death against the rocks,” she replied, her voice muffled but audible. “Then I wouldn’t be forced to endure any more of your stinging witticisms.”
The Dragon’s lips curved in a reluctant smile, “Shall I attempt to pull you back in?”
“No, thank you. I was headed the other way.”
“So I gathered.”
The hero, or the dragon as he is so lovingly referred, has a few thorns but that makes him all the more interesting. His past is haunting him, making him less reluctant to trust Gwen, but the solace he finds in her presence makes it impossible to stay away. She is the fiery spirit that he wants to spend his every moment with. He tries to be harsh and coarse with her, but he simply cannot. For a man who has revenge and justice on his mind he now has a bigger issue to face. Will he give up on his search for vengeance because of events in the past when he has a chance for a future with Gwendolyn?
The story has secrets and surprises near the end. Some of them predictable and some not. The Bride and the Beast has a secondary story that was quiet charming as well. If you are looking for a light enjoyable read Medeiors’ story will delight you and let you believe again that the princess in the fairy tale always gets her happily ever after. Even if the hero is a beast.
Overall Rating: 4/5
Heat Level: 3/5
Lisa @ Once Upon A Chapter
The Highlanders of Ballybliss are being held captive in their own village. They have been terrorized by a dragon because of a horrible deed one of the villagers committed years ago. The dragon that lives in the Castle Weyrcraig makes demands and the villagers have no other choice but to comply or else great tragedy will occur. One night, the price the dragon asks them to pay is to high, so they see no other choice but to sacrifice a virgin to their horrible tyrant.
Gwendolyn Wilder is that virgin.
Poor Gwendolyn is tied to a stake in the courtyard of the castle when the dragon comes out to collect her. Gwendolyn does not believe the dragon really exists, and discovers what she has always believed, that the dragon is nothing more than a man. A flesh and blood man bullying the poor villagers. Still, he never once shows his face to her and never reveals his identity. Gwendolyn wants nothing more to flee this place and return to her family but the longer she stays with the dragon and the more she learns about him the less unsure she is about where she really wants to be. And the terrifying dragon? Well, he’s not sure he has the strength to let Gwendolyn walk out of his life anymore either.
This story was witty, charming and a delight to read. Teresa Medeiros creates a strong heroine who is brilliant and intelligent. Still, despite all that she doesn’t know her own worth, so her insecurities allows many people to take advantage of her. When matching wits against the dragon, she is sassy and full of life, but she is unprepared for his kindness towards her. They develop this connection and this kinship that is comforting to both of them, but they don’t understand why. Not knowing his identity or seeing his face is disconcerting to Gwen, but it also fascinates and intrigues her. Their attraction is something she can’t seem to escape from and something she cannot explain. If they were not learning more about each other, they shared a playful banter that will have you laughing out loud many times throughout the book.
She could almost see herself from his point of view - a juicy morsel with its feet flailing helplessly in midair as it dangled half in and half out of the window...not only could she not move forward - she couldn’t move backwards either....
“I do believe you forgot your parasol, Miss Wilder,” he called out, running one finger down the frilly umbrella. “I’m afraid you’ll find it far more difficult to float to the ground without it.”
“I was hoping to dash myself to death against the rocks,” she replied, her voice muffled but audible. “Then I wouldn’t be forced to endure any more of your stinging witticisms.”
The Dragon’s lips curved in a reluctant smile, “Shall I attempt to pull you back in?”
“No, thank you. I was headed the other way.”
“So I gathered.”
The hero, or the dragon as he is so lovingly referred, has a few thorns but that makes him all the more interesting. His past is haunting him, making him less reluctant to trust Gwen, but the solace he finds in her presence makes it impossible to stay away. She is the fiery spirit that he wants to spend his every moment with. He tries to be harsh and coarse with her, but he simply cannot. For a man who has revenge and justice on his mind he now has a bigger issue to face. Will he give up on his search for vengeance because of events in the past when he has a chance for a future with Gwendolyn?
The story has secrets and surprises near the end. Some of them predictable and some not. The Bride and the Beast has a secondary story that was quiet charming as well. If you are looking for a light enjoyable read Medeiors’ story will delight you and let you believe again that the princess in the fairy tale always gets her happily ever after. Even if the hero is a beast.
Overall Rating: 4/5
Heat Level: 3/5
Lisa @ Once Upon A Chapter
caylarich's review
5.0
Going back & giving some loving reviews to a few of my FAV books!
I read 'The Bride & the Beast' back when I was still in highschool..so it's been around 10+ years. I absolutely adored it. I loved it SO MUCH that my best friend & I would call each other after school, & I would read chapters of this book to her. I read to her everyday until it was finished. You may be asking yourself.."Why did you simply not take her the book to read ya idgit?!" LET ME TELL YOU RIGHT NOW...That poor girl was illiterate, & only spoke whale. I kid, we were teenage girls & we f'in loved talking on phones. I'd rather take a razor scooter to the back of my ankle now than talk on a phone..but back then TB&tB, my bestie, & the good ole landline was all I needed to reach nirvana.
I've read 'The Bride & the Beast' several times since then, but that one was my favorite.
I read 'The Bride & the Beast' back when I was still in highschool..so it's been around 10+ years. I absolutely adored it. I loved it SO MUCH that my best friend & I would call each other after school, & I would read chapters of this book to her. I read to her everyday until it was finished. You may be asking yourself.."Why did you simply not take her the book to read ya idgit?!" LET ME TELL YOU RIGHT NOW...That poor girl was illiterate, & only spoke whale. I kid, we were teenage girls & we f'in loved talking on phones. I'd rather take a razor scooter to the back of my ankle now than talk on a phone..but back then TB&tB, my bestie, & the good ole landline was all I needed to reach nirvana.
I've read 'The Bride & the Beast' several times since then, but that one was my favorite.
seamus_j's review
3.0
This is a good (not fantastic, but worth reading) romance set in the Scottish highlands. Although there is a bit of history and scenery, the setting is mostly backdrop. It could be set in any remote location with a castle and a village without losing flavor. So don't read if you are big into Scottish romance.
Well, there are two wonderfully strong women in this story, so I give it props for feminism. The lady of the tale actively pursues the lord in a way normally given to male characters in romance novels. She is overweight and he celebrates this and encourages her to view herself positively. Props for that, also. However, there is considerable slut-shaming throughout the tale. There is also some really poorly negotiated interpersonal contact and there is normalization of violence.
*spoiler* Plus, there is no actual dragon. I was very disappointed, but your mileage may vary.
Well, there are two wonderfully strong women in this story, so I give it props for feminism. The lady of the tale actively pursues the lord in a way normally given to male characters in romance novels. She is overweight and he celebrates this and encourages her to view herself positively. Props for that, also. However, there is considerable slut-shaming throughout the tale. There is also some really poorly negotiated interpersonal contact and there is normalization of violence.
*spoiler* Plus, there is no actual dragon. I was very disappointed, but your mileage may vary.
emilyhei's review
3.0
A classic story retold with a young woman who has not indulged in the randy lifestyles that many of the women in Ballybliss enjoy, but when the town decides they need a virgin sacrifice to appease the demands of the Dragon who lives at Castle Weycraig, she is the chosen one. Little does the Dragon know that the town has decided to take matters into their own hands, in the form of a goddess who stirs long ago memories of a boy who was filled with hope and promise, only to turn into a beast whose life has been hard and injustice.
Enjoyable story, had some really great moments in the book. A page turner, lagged a bit at the very end but otherwise good. 3.75.
Enjoyable story, had some really great moments in the book. A page turner, lagged a bit at the very end but otherwise good. 3.75.
kellykaufenberg93's review
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
Blurs lines of sexual and marital ethics.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism, Mental illness, Sexual violence, Slavery, and Toxic relationship
It starts out entertaining, but ends up being disappointing. The sex scenes are not well-written.youwishyouwereme's review
2.0
This book wasn't written for me. I love fairy tales, but I hate cheesy romance for the most part. So maybe it's a bit unfair for me to read this and rate it as harshly as I'm about to. I saw this book lying in a donation bin at Goodwill when I was 12 though and was determined to one day find it again and read it. Now I'm 21 and very glad I did not read it at 12. It would have scarred me, not gonna lie.
So here we go.
The main plot of the book is supposed to be based off of Beauty and the Beast, which can be seen slightly, but it reflects more Disney's new live action version of Beauty and the Beast energy than the traditional tale. A total jerk of a beast that isn't at all ugly? Check. A beauty that is living in a village so stupid that it is unbelievable while she is magically and inexplicably intelligent? Check. Pretending to be historically accurate while totally stomping all over actual historicity? Check. The historical inaccuracy did not really bother me as much though as the fact that the author portrays Scottish people for the most part as being stupid and superstitious to a nearly irredeemable amount. If this was a fictional place, I probably could have gotten along with it better, but the fact that it was set in a village meant to be from a real country sets me off a bit.
The other thing that set me off, besides the utter clicheness of the story, was the tonal dissonance throughout the story. You would have a dead serious moment and something that was supposed to be "funny" would happen, and it would just feel like a clown being thrown into a funeral scene. I understand maybe the book was meant to be lighthearted, but it just felt really off.
Also, I hated the sex scenes, but I'm an asexual Christian, so that might be more me than the book, I don't know. Like I said earlier, this book was definitely not written for me.
The ONLY reason I gave this two stars is because despite how ridiculous it was, I wasn't bored for about 75% of it. It kind of drew me in in the same train wreck way The Other Boleyn Girl did. Either that or I'm being way too generous and feel guilty one starring a book for a genre I already can't stand. 1.5 stars.
So here we go.
The main plot of the book is supposed to be based off of Beauty and the Beast, which can be seen slightly, but it reflects more Disney's new live action version of Beauty and the Beast energy than the traditional tale. A total jerk of a beast that isn't at all ugly? Check. A beauty that is living in a village so stupid that it is unbelievable while she is magically and inexplicably intelligent? Check. Pretending to be historically accurate while totally stomping all over actual historicity? Check. The historical inaccuracy did not really bother me as much though as the fact that the author portrays Scottish people for the most part as being stupid and superstitious to a nearly irredeemable amount. If this was a fictional place, I probably could have gotten along with it better, but the fact that it was set in a village meant to be from a real country sets me off a bit.
The other thing that set me off, besides the utter clicheness of the story, was the tonal dissonance throughout the story. You would have a dead serious moment and something that was supposed to be "funny" would happen, and it would just feel like a clown being thrown into a funeral scene. I understand maybe the book was meant to be lighthearted, but it just felt really off.
Also, I hated the sex scenes, but I'm an asexual Christian, so that might be more me than the book, I don't know. Like I said earlier, this book was definitely not written for me.
The ONLY reason I gave this two stars is because despite how ridiculous it was, I wasn't bored for about 75% of it. It kind of drew me in in the same train wreck way The Other Boleyn Girl did. Either that or I'm being way too generous and feel guilty one starring a book for a genre I already can't stand. 1.5 stars.