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Lottie disney bookworm (1056 KP) rated Belle's Discovery in Books

Apr 10, 2020

Belle's Discovery

Tessa Roehl | 2020 | Children, Fiction & Poetry

7.0

(1 Ratings)

Book Rating

As an adult reader I actually found myself quite enjoying this book! Don't get me wrong it was a very quick read but then the book is aimed at children so that is to be expected.

This tale of Belle as a child really stayed true to the character that we know and love in Beauty & the Beast. Belle knows she is different from her schoolmates and longs to have something in common with them. However, her original tendencies to learning and invention always shine through: a trait the other children label as odd.

I really appreciated the small nods to the famous Disney film throughout this book: the triplets in their different colour dresses and Maurice's familiar inventions make the reader comfortable in this provincial town and truly settle in to the story of Belle as a child.

Naturally the tale has to revolve around books and I would be disappointed if it didn't. The transformation of Belle into "the girl who could" mirrors that of the town's neglected bookstore and her childlike determination is inspiring.

Both the writing and the illustrations are perfect in this book. Sadly there is no mini gaston but that would have probably been too obvious and trite.

A great book for children (and big kids) alike.

Kudos

Sara Cox (1845 KP) rated Sea Witch Rising in Books

Aug 6, 2019

Sea Witch Rising

Sarah Henning | 2019 | Fiction & Poetry, Science Fiction/Fantasy

8.0

(3 Ratings)

Book Rating

I was excited when this book came up. I like retellings of older stories and couldn't wait to get my claws into this. Evie, a sea witch, who has been villinaised by the sea king after a past that seems to be very similar to the tale of the little mermaid. Alia, a mermaid, in love with a human prince and has a deal to be human in exchange for true love's kiss. Runa, Alia's twin, goes topside to save her sister from her fate. I found it very difficult to get into, but I think this was maybe my fault as I had kept in mind that it was a The Little Mermaid twisted tale and found myself trying to link the two. As soon as I managed to get this out of my head and see it more as a related story in a different time and place, I found it far more enjoyable and I absolutely loved it. At times I was a bit confused as I was missing I formation which is no doubt available in Sea Witch (Book 1) which I have stupidly not read. If you like magical tales (or should I say tails) you will love this.