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Review: Beauty and the Clockwork Beast

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“Any more charm from her and he’d be writing sickening sonnets and singing beneath her balcony. Which was actually quite near his own. Blast.” – 49%ish

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review. Publish Date: 2nd August 2016

Title: Beauty and the Clockwork Beast Author: Nancy Campbell Allen Publisher: Shadow Mountain Publishing Book: Standalone Genre: steampunk/retelling Found: Netgalley Rating: 5 Voodoos

Just like in the classic Beauty and the Beast, this Steampunk Romance features an unlikely love story. The Lord of Blackwell Manor, Miles, is plagued by a family curse that changes him into a shape-shifting wolf every month during the full moon. Lucy-a smart, attractive, and well-respected botanist-travels to Blackwell Manor to take care of her sick cousin, Kate, who is married to Miles’s younger brother. For Lucy, the trip is a welcomed respite from her work and recent discovery-a breakthrough serum that could eliminate the scourge of vampires from London. However, Lucy finds more than she bargained for when she arrives at the Manor. Miles, who is brash and inhospitable, does not take kindly to visitors. He is still unsettled by the mysterious death of his newlywed wife. And then there’s Marie, Miles’s sister, who was attacked and murdered just weeks earlier. Miles is horrified to think that he might be to blame for the deaths. And who is the ghost that haunt the halls? Lucy is convinced that the death of Miles’s wife and sister-as well as her cousin’s mysterious illness-are tied together, but how? Lady Charlesworth has her eye on inheriting Blackwell Manor for her family. Could her daughter, Candice, or her son, Arthur, have had a hand in the mysterious deaths? The clues make a vampire suspect highly likely. During her investigation, Lucy finds herself caring deeply for Miles, but he fights to keep his distance in order to protect Lucy from his family’s secret. And, yet, he feels attracted toward the woman who is able to look past the fearsome-looking scar that has marred his handsome face. With no other option, Miles and Lucy must work together if they are to find the answer to the mysteries at the Manor. But that’s not all Lucy wants to solve. There’s a deeper mystery behind Miles. Can she solve that, too? Ultimately, she must decide if she can love the man, beast and all.

-Netgalley

Ahhh superb. Just superb. An emotionally scarred, secretly gentle beast of a man and a driven and highly perceptive intelligent young lady. I loved it! I have to say though, I don’t see where it’s got its description of  ’Jane Eyre meets Beauty and the Beast.’ from (Says this on goodreads). Honestly, I know little about few classics, but from what I do know it seemed to have more of a Pride and Prejudice feel to it. But maybe that’s because I have a suspicion that if I ever get up the courage to read it it might just be my favourite classic so I compare everything to what I know of it. But then perhaps I’m grasping at straws because Beauty and the Beast is my favourite fairytale [retelling] and I’m also a fan of steampunk so the prospect of having all three mixed in together is just spectacular. I need a hardback copy of this book now please! It’s most definitely a 2016 favourite.

I have to say Lucy is probably my favourite character. She’s strong and driven and pretty sensible and I found it quite refreshing. I know that Miles certainly did too and while some of the plot points weren’t well hidden, the whole thing was so well written I didn’t really care. I loved reading about how Lucy surprised Miles and she did it was such regularity you’d think he’d have learnt to expect nothing when it came to her, but he’s got some time to work on it. I especially loved her reaction to his secret, for a minute there I thought she’d let me down horribly, but I should have had faith in her, I’m sorry Lucy!

I’d love to know more about this world and I’d like to see some other happy endings going on too. I do feel like there were a few things that weren’t fully addressed so I’m really hoping that this is NOT in actual fact a stand alone and the rest of the gentlemen will get their own fairytales. Jonathan and Kate can be the prequel with Cinderella! Though, they weren’t nearly as exciting as Miles and Lucy (perhaps because they were secondary characters so they weren’t as fleshed out?)

I discovered as I began to write this that there’s a novella with my copy that’s a prequel of Marie, Miles’s sister but I’m not sure I want to read it, knowing how she ends up in all of this. Perhaps if it had been at the start I’d have been more inclined to read it, but after the end of the book, I’m happy with what happened and I don’t want to be dragging it backwards through my heart again…

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One comment on “Review: Beauty and the Clockwork Beast

  1. Kristen @ Metaphors and Moonlight

    Oh how unique, a steampunk Beauty and the Beast retelling! I’ve actually never read any Beauty and the Beast retellings, though I’d like to. And Lucy and Miles both sound like great characters. I love those driven, intelligent types! I’m glad you enjoyed this one so much :-)

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