Book Review: Hunted by Meagan Spooner

Title: Hunted
Author: Meagan Spooner
Genre: YA Fantasy/Retelling
Publication Date: March 14th, 2017

“Beauty knows the Beast’s forest in her bones—and in her blood. Though she grew up with the city’s highest aristocrats, far from her father’s old lodge, she knows that the forest holds secrets and that her father is the only hunter who’s ever come close to discovering them.

So when her father loses his fortune and moves Yeva and her sisters back to the outskirts of town, Yeva is secretly relieved. Out in the wilderness, there’s no pressure to make idle chatter with vapid baronessas…or to submit to marrying a wealthy gentleman. But Yeva’s father’s misfortune may have cost him his mind, and when he goes missing in the woods, Yeva sets her sights on one prey: the creature he’d been obsessively tracking just before his disappearance.

Deaf to her sisters’ protests, Yeva hunts this strange Beast back into his own territory—a cursed valley, a ruined castle, and a world of creatures that Yeva’s only heard about in fairy tales. A world that can bring her ruin or salvation. Who will survive: the Beauty, or the Beast?” (Goodreads)

If you don’t know, I am obsessed with Beauty and the Beast. I always have been and even went to see it for a birthday when I-MAX theaters just started. I was hesitant to start this book because 1.) retellings and me don’t always get along and 2.) I just know what I love about Beauty and the Beast and I don’t want it to be ruined. I feel so dramatic but it is what it is, ha. I am happy to report back that I did in fact enjoy this book!

Even though it is Beauty and the Beast, the characters also go by these names, it isn’t like the Disney version. The author takes us into this with fresh eyes. The characters do have similar traits to their original counterparts and I liked that. Belle always knew what she wanted and was determined, Yeva is no different. She is fierce and loves hunting. Society isn’t okay with her antics but that doesn’t stop her from being who she is. As for the beast, I loved his point-of-view. It added to the story nicely.

The relationship between them is slow and steady. He is desperate for a break from this curse and she just wants to survive. I like that the beast was expecting a man and instead gets a woman. He learned a lot from her and obviously love is a magical thing. It was just perfect!

I wouldn’t really say there were any big plot twists or anything that shocked me but that was okay. I just enjoyed seeing how the plot progressed and just hoped for the best between them.

If I had to make one complaint I would say that the ending felt rushed to me but it could also just be me. I like endings that give me enough closure I could wrap myself in it! I’m not saying there wasn’t any but not enough to satisfy me.

Overall, I really liked it and I am looking forward to read her other retelling.