Thorny

In this reimagining of “Beauty and the Beast,” first in the Smothered Rose trilogy, Eye explores the beast’s perspective, providing a window into the thoughts and fears of the wolflike protagonist. The story follows a boy of noble birth forced to live among commoners as a shepherd before being bewitched to inhabit an enchanted castle in the body of a beast. In Eye’s version, the beast gets more of a backstory, lending a deeper look at his inner turmoil and motivations, including the primal and sometimes desperate drive to be near the woman he loves. The story is peppered with sly references to other fairy tales, including some slated for the spotlight as the trilogy progresses. Beauty (here, called Labelle) and the protagonist are locked in a guessing game over his name for much of the book, à la Rumpelstiltskin; Beauty’s long golden locks require a servant to carry them, evoking a free-roaming Rapunzel; and Labelle’s stepmother is so wicked her father would rather she lived with a beast, crossing into Cinderella territory. Eye weaves a fun tale as she pieces together several well-loved fairy tales. Ages 12–up. (BookLife)