Book Review - Beauty and the Werewolf by Mercedes Lackey

The eldest daughter is often doomed in fairy tales. But Bella—Isabella Beauchamps, daughter of a wealthy merchant—vows to escape the usual pitfalls.

Anxious to avoid the traditional path, Bella dons a red cloak and ventures into the forbidden forest to consult with "Granny," the local wisewoman. But on the way home she's attacked by a wolf—who turns out to be a cursed nobleman. Secluded in his castle, Bella is torn between her family and this strange man who creates marvelous inventions and makes her laugh—when he isn't howling at the moon.

Bella knows all too well that breaking spells is never easy. But a determined beauty, a wizard (after all, he's only an occasional werewolf) and a little Godmotherly interference might just be able to bring about a happy ending.

Beauty and the Werewolf by Mercedes Lackey
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I am ashamed to admit that I did not remember much from the first time I read this one! I reread it though because I just can't get enough of the author's stories.

Bella is a very strong female character who keeps surprising you around every turn. She knows how to run a home and unlike other fairy tells where the stepmother is wicked her's is quite tolerable and just a little silly. There's no bad blood between her or her step sisters either! But things go south for her when a visit to Granny turns into something she didn't expect. She handles everything in turn though and handles herself well and without the hysterics her step mother or sisters would show.

Even though I remember reading this story I was still surprised in the end. Honestly, reading through you probably wouldn't have suspected the person who practically caused this whole mess to begin with. But now that I've had a little time to think things through, it makes a lot of sense and I can see the small hints here and there that pointed the way.

And like most of Mercedes Lackey's books I'd be willing to reread this one again. This newest series of the Five Hundred Kingdoms is a brilliant twist on the classic fairy tells that we're almost always used to! I can't wait to get my hands on the next book!

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