The Beast That Never Was by Caren J. Werlinger

Lise is the oldest of four daughters of the King's chief Huntsman. 'I don't like him in that way') does seem a bit out of place, or rather out of time. Although the occasional use of modern concepts (ex. The world-building is consistent and believable. If you strip away the magical parts, the book can easily stand alone as a beautiful coming-out and coming-of-age tale in a small town sometime in the pre-industrial past. What makes this variation different from the usual fairy tale is the very real, almost historical, feel of the milieu and the characters who inhabit the book. This is a fairy tale through and through, with all the usual fairy tale trappings of instant attraction, magical castles (in this case, a magical house), scary forests, a wicked witch, and the all-too-perfect ending. Except for the occasional creepy scene, there's not a bit of horror in the book, even though the author could have easily taken the story in that direction. Too bad I can't reveal what it is exactly, except to say it gives some modern horror vibe to the whole tale. Whoever cast this spell on Beauty is one creative witch. What if Beauty was the Beast? That in itself is already an intriguing twist on the classic Beauty and the Beast tale. Soon, only Lise stands between the villagers and the woman she has grown to love. Senna prepares to flee, accepting what has become her fate, but Lise isn’t ready to give up her one chance for happiness. As the villagers’ fear grows, so does their hatred. Somehow, all of these things are connected to Senna. Odd sightings in the forest-monsters of legend come to life, old enemies back from the past, fearsome beasts on the prowl-begin to frighten the people of Lise’s village. She gave up hope long ago that there could ever be an end to her isolation. When she meets a mysterious woman in the forest, Lise feels the stirrings of emotions she cannot give voice to, but with this woman, she doesn’t have to say anything-Senna knows.Ĭursed, hunted, and feared, Senna has been forced to wander from place to place for more years than she cares to remember. But where her mother would have her wed a childhood friend to secure their future, Lise knows that is not what she longs for.

She must now live a life of duty to her mother and sisters, helping them to cope in their altered circumstances. Lise’s father is dead, and the life of plenty and freedom that she has known as the daughter of the King’s Huntsman is gone.

The Beast That Never Was by Caren J. Werlinger