Samantha Gail

This was such an amazing, unique read, I was absolutely spell bound from the beginning. First off, the writing was so smooth and polished for me, I could tell from the first chapter that this was going to be good. I had no idea that this was Beauty and the Beast related. The blurb I read made the book sound interesting enough on it's own I was ready to read it. Things started happening and I'd think that's kind of like it, then fifty or so pages in, it just smacked me in the face, lol!

There was so much more to the story and this world than a fairytale though. There was adventure, time travel, archaeology, and magic. There was a blend of modern and medieval, everything blending together so seamlessly. And this also wasn't a simple retelling. Even I was in suspense on what was going to happen next and how things were going to be resolved. At the end, I was sitting on the edge because I knew the pages were running out and I could feel the tension of a wrench being thrown into a happy ending. This took elements of Beauty and the Beast, elevated them, and blended so many different storylines and genres, that it was simply stunning.

I loved how strong and smart Mirielle was, never cowering under Gryphon's anger and fighting back when necessary. I wasn't too sure about Gryphon at first, but it was phenomenal writing to slowly show the growth in him and reveal his past just when he's started to soften us up. The chemistry between Mirielle and Gryphon was so powerful, and that ending had my heart clenching. I don't want to spoil anything, but I think I understand why things are happening and it makes me sad. I hope they can work it all out. I even enjoyed Barrett. He didn't seem completely awful at the beginning, and I was glad to see more of him at the end. I don't think he would be a good fit for Mirielle (too obsessive in my opinion), though he seems like an okay enough guy.

I was stunned at the revelations in the end of who some of these characters really are and what Aeternitias is. Once again, this was an amazing job by the author weaving in so many elements and building incredible art. I am so ready to see where book two takes me.

Thank you to the author for the ARC! I am leaving this review voluntarily.… (más)

Maybe some spoilers -

I will read anything Samantha Gail writes! I've been so excited to read Celeste and Wesley's story for so long and everything about it took my breath away. I started reading this when I didn't really have a lot of time on my hands, and I was so anxious to get back to it every time I had to put it down. I easily could have read this in a day if given a chance, and when I finally was able to sit down, I ripped through the pages. My mouth dropped so many times, from shock at some people's audacity, and from some certain spicy scenes that went there!

Knowing that this was a Cinderella retelling, I was waiting for the other shoe to drop. The journey couldn't be that easy for Celeste and Wesley, and my stomach was in knots in anticipation for the pain. My heart was absolutely breaking for Celeste as life kept handing her crappy hand after crappy hand, and for Wesley to be constantly manipulated by his good for nothing father. My emotions really went through the wringer, from giddiness and happiness, to anger, sadness, and rage. This book had it all! I absolutely loved that this took place primarily in a small town. Being from a small town in the south, I felt like I was sucked into the atmosphere and it made me kind of nostalgic for the past. There's so much beauty and kindness in these small towns, but also some ugliness and hate. This book captured everything so wonderfully, from family, friends, and neighbors, to everyone coming together when they're needed.

Celeste is a better person than I could ever hope to be. After experiencing the losses she has, being abandoned by the person she needed most, and manipulated by a wicked stepmother, I would have absolutely snapped. When she did start standing up for herself, she did it in the most graceful, gentle way. Celeste showed so much strength in persevering - even when she thought she was weak and was lost in the darkness, she carried on. I was completely smitten by Wesley from the first scene. There's just something about a punk kid with anger issues that turns into a soft marshmallow for his girl. He was so broken already from his home life and had so much anger with no place to put it. Celeste quieted his darkness and gave him the family he so desperately needed. That is probably one of my favorite parts of this story was Wesley finding a home and family, and his willingness to learn and change to be worthy of it.

I really loved that the first 60% was dedicated to Celeste and Wesley as teenagers, to see them grow from friendship and puppy love, to something deeper. The quote at the beginning of Part Two was so perfect - "'Until we have seen someone's darkness, we don't really know who they are. Until we have forgiven someone's darkness, we don't really know what love is.'" Despite them knowing that they were soulmates and that they wanted to love each other all their lives, it doesn't really mean anything until their relationship is put to the test. It's easy to love someone when it's easy. It's even harder to love someone when it's hard. Going through everything that they did, the pain and loss and grief, only made their connection so much stronger in the end. It made their reunion all the more sweeter and I was so happy with how everything turned out. I was grinning ear to ear!

Every time Desiree popped up, I was so livid. It blew my mind that Doug didn't see through her act and cut her loose. As much as I loved that he was looking out for his daughter in what he set up for her, I don't think I can forgive him for actually going through with the marriage. I know he was probably impaired, but my goodness! The evilness could be seen from SPACE! Everyone got their comeuppance in the end, although I would have made certain people suffer a little more, lol!

This was an absolutely perfect modern Cinderella retelling, that had a little bit of everything. Your heart will be ripped out and put back together, you'll swoon and sign, and rant and rave. What a beautiful book!

Thank you to the author for allowing me to read this ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily.… (más)