The Subtle Beauty by Ann Hunter

From the very first page, I was hooked. I was given this e-book, The Subtle Beauty by Ann Hunter, for free in exchange for a review. I have not been that interested in reading these days since I have been working and going to school but I thought, why not read this book and see how it goes. The tale of Beauty and the Beast has been a favorite of mine because of the trials and tribulations that they go through to finally find love. The Subtle Beauty is a retelling of that classic story but in a different time and place.

*Spoiler Alert*

From the first page, the writer takes you to a world of happiness and to a world of despair. The first part of the book starts out with the telling of a husband, Barwn Blackthorn and his wife who are expecting a child. From there, it takes a dark and twisted turn for the worse when Xander, the husband, seeks help from a mysterious stranger. In exchange for lands and power, the husband unknowingly sacrifices what he loves the most. 

Next, you’re introduced to two of the main characters, Princess Glory, and her friend Colin. You read about them playing in the forest. They run into danger there and the outcome strengthens a bond between them. The first two parts of the book are basically introducing you to the main characters and sharing some of their history before we get to the beginning of the love story.

The actual starting of the love story starts five years later when Princess Glory is planning to run away with Colin but her plans change when her father, Balthazar, High King of the Twelve Kingdoms, betroths her to Prince Eoghan of the Blood Realm, who happens to be Barwn Blackthorn’s son. His son paid the price for his father’s deeds by becoming a beast. She is taken away to live at Blackthorn where she is confronted time and again by this beast. She eventually finds out that he is Eoghan but by then she is already falling in love. 

Meanwhile, Colin is searching for her and wanting her back. He has to overcome pretty big obstacles to finally get to her. He sees her with the beast and decides that he needs to be killed. However, Glory is already in love so she thwarts Colin’s plans and sends him home with regrets. 

From here it’s pretty much just like the theme of Beauty and the Beast except for a few differences that I will let you find out on your own. Eoghan sends her away, she leaves but finds out that she loves him and returns. But it’s too late. Colin comes back and kills the beast. She leaves heartbroken and mourns until she is reunited with Eoghan.

Overall, this story was very engaging and written very well. I was not distracted by any errors in the writing, if there were any, and read the book cover to cover in a little more than three hours. I felt as if I was a part of the world the author, Ann Hunter, created. I will definitely be reading the next book in this installment. 

If you want to read this book yourself, check it out at http://amzn.com/B00HNJX0Q2.