Stevie‘s review of The Beast Prince by Marian Perera
Paranormal Fantasy Romance published by Samhain 29 Mar 16
Of all the fairy tales I’ve seen adapted, Beauty and the Beast is the one I most enjoy returning to as a reader. It doesn’t matter whether the beast is metaphorical or, as in this story, literal, there are plenty of different twists that authors can put on the same basic plot. Throw in an imaginative setting, and there’s even more chance I’ll be hooked.
The setting in this case is an alternate world inhabited by the descendants of some very real world feeling humans, whom we slowly discover may have originally come from our world – or one much like it – but recent generations have been forced to adapt to far more hostile surroundings than their ancestors could possibly have envisioned, with no definite chance of ever finding their way home. The settlers have split into a number of small townships in order to stand a better chance of avoiding notice by the would-be rulers of this world: offspring of an insane evil goddess who has been trapped underground; and the human man who was brave or foolhardy enough to venture into her prison.
The princes have an almost-human appearance, but can transform at will into various forms of earth or rock, except for – as we later discover – the hero of this tale, Marus. Marus has been tricked by one of his brothers, and is now stuck in his human form. After the town he ruled is destroyed, along with its human inhabitants, he seeks sanctuary in a ruined tower – and that’s where our heroine finds him. Kat was captain of her town’s guard, but has resigned her post in order to seek out the new prince who has been seen in the area, and either make a deal with him, or kill him – either way she’s going to protect her town.
Marus tries to keep Kat from knowing how powerless he now is and strikes a deal with her – if she stays and works for him, he won’t destroy the town – so long as the townsfolk also keep him supplied with provisions. Not being able to shift into his earth form means Marus is also unable to heal himself the way he would do normally, and so is at as much risk from his brothers as pretty much any normal human. Kat agrees and slowly begins to learn about her new boss – and even come to respect him, over and above the attraction she feels towards him from the start. But then Marus and the town come under threat from Marus’ brother – the same one that almost defeated him before – and they all have to work together to reach a solution.
This story has a very well imagined world, with some very diverse characters. I love the backstory of the colony and its scattered settlements, particularly since it’s told to us one piece at a time – rather than in a big info-dump. Kat and Marus make for a great pairing: both romantically and as a fighting team, and I’d also be keen to see more about the other townsfolk and their relationships. This could make for a great series should the author find a way to continue it.
Grade: A
Summary:
Half human. Half earth. All molten-hot devastation.
Katsumi Ito, captain of the guard, would give her life to defend her town. But as she trudges toward an abandoned outpost with a tribute-laden pony, she knows her rifle is useless.
The powerful elemental now living in the outpost can instantly transform from human to a landslide of cold rock or molten lava. His demand that she serve him sets her teeth on edge, yet she must obey or he could destroy everything.
If Prince Marus seems confident and commanding, it’s because his new servant must never suspect he’s lost his ability to shift into his earth form. Still, his desire for the warrior woman shakes him to the core. Especially when she offers her body in return for his patronage—as he doesn’t take unwilling bedmates.
Then a far worse danger threatens the town, and reveals Marus’s vulnerability. Kat is fit to kill. But first she needs a miracle. That means joining forces with Marus—and guarding her heart against a Prince who’s fallen in love with her.
Warning: Contains a beauty who’s a crack shot with a rifle, and a beast who believes there’s nothing worse than being a human—even if he enjoys having them in his bed.
Read an excerpt.
