I love Beauty and the Beast. But so many fairy tale retellings are all the same. So when I find one that really stands out and brings a new layer to the familiar tale, I have to tell people about it. Check out this review of Kill the Beast.
Today I’m highlighting the new book Midnight for a Curse by E.J. Kitchens, I found it original and funny And I’m sure you’re going to like it too.
Every Curse Must Have an End
Belinda Lambton knows a curse when she sees one. She also knows the wisdom of agreeing with a powerful enchantress. So when she inadvertently gets mixed up with a cursed Beast and his enchantress, she finds herself tasked with the role of Curse Breaker. That’s not an easy position, for Beast has reasons of his own to keep his curse. There’s also someone else determined to break it by whatever means possible and claim Beast for herself, and she doesn’t take competition well.
With wit, clean romance, and a touch of danger, Midnight for a Curse is a retelling of the beloved Beauty and the Beast tale.
My Dive in reveiw.
Midnight for a cure is not your ordinary Beauty and the Beast retelling. In this version the beauty, Belinda Lambton, is not trying to save her father. Rather she is actively running from an unwanted suitor. And she runs right into the Castle of an enchanted Beast.
I loved Belinda so much she is a crafty and sneaky protagonist. Who is not afraid to use Beast’s curse to her own advantage. Like getting her hearts desire from the desperate fairy godmother who needs this curse broken — yesterday.
The Beast of this story is not a monster. He just wants to be left alone so he can read his books in peace. A man, um . . .beast, after my own heart. He is also sneaky and wise to the ways of crafty village girls. He doesn’t want his old life back and will try any subterfuge necessary to get the beautiful interloper to leave.
Watching these two play off each other and try to one up each other is my kind of romance. None of this going to balls and pleasantries. Give me a good matching of wits any day.
The best scene is where Belinda confronts Beast about the excessive number of sweets she’s being fed.
The actual mechanics of the curse were so original while still hearkening back to the original french version of the tale. This is a great retelling of a classic tale for those who want to go deeper than the Disney version.
The number one on the cover carries promises of a series. I certainly look forward to more adventures with these characters.
I was the recipient of an advanced reader copy of this novel. All opinions are my own and are given honestly.
Buy it here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08777SVDV
About E.J. Kitchens
E.J. Kitchens loves tales of romance, adventure, and happily-ever-afters and strives to write such tales herself. When she’s not thinking about dashing heroes or how awesome bacteria are–she is a microbiologist after all–she’s probably photographing flowers, walking in the woods, or talking about classic books and black-and-white movies. Elizabeth is a member of Realm Makers and blogs at Lands Uncharted. She lives in Alabama.
If you’d like up-to-date news on her writing, visit her website and sign up for her newsletter.
https://www.elizabethjanekitchens.com/
If you want more Beauty and the Beast fun from E.J. Kitchens check out The Rose and the Wand. It’s a B&B retelling from the enchantresses point of view. It’s also now available in audio-book and the narrator has the most amazing English accent.
Rose and Wand blurb:
When prim and proper enchantress Lady Alexandria attempts to bewitch a magic mirror, she ends up cursed -powerless, penniless, dumped in a strange land, and stuck in the body of an old hag. As if that weren’t bad enough, the mirror gives her two tasks: Curse the prince whose arrogant cruelty she once ignored and find her way home – before the Magic Collectors find her and strip her of her powers forever and before the mysterious woodsman who finds her lost in the forest discovers who she really is. The prince she cursed must learn to love before an enchanted rose dies or he will remain a beast forever. Will her fate also be sealed when the last petal falls?
Buy it here: https://www.amazon.com/Rose-Wand-Magic-Collectors-Book/dp/B088ZXV9GG/ref=tmm_aud_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=
C. O. Bonham 