A beast,a beauty and some roses || Of Beast and Beauty by Stacey Jay

Title:Of Beast and Beauty

Author:Stacey Jay

Release Date:July 23rd 2013

Publisher:Delacorte Press

Synopsis:

In the beginning was the darkness, and in the darkness was a girl, and in the girl was a secret...

In the domed city of Yuan, the blind Princess Isra, a Smooth Skin, is raised to be a human sacrifice whose death will ensure her city’s vitality. In the desert outside Yuan, Gem, a mutant beast, fights to save his people, the Monstrous, from starvation. Neither dreams that together, they could return balance to both their worlds.

Isra wants to help the city’s Banished people, second-class citizens despised for possessing Monstrous traits. But after she enlists the aid of her prisoner, Gem, who has been captured while trying to steal Yuan’s enchanted roses, she begins to care for him, and to question everything she has been brought up to believe.

As secrets are revealed and Isra’s sight, which vanished during her childhood, returned, Isra will have to choose between duty to her people and the beast she has come to love.

Of all the fairytales,Beauty and the Beast has always been my favourite.I love the concept of 'opposites attract' and that appearance doesn't matter in love.I've also been a great fan of its retellings and I came across Of Beast and Beauty when I was hunting for some recs in that genre.I was quite intrigued by the synopsis,so I gave this book a shot,and I am so glad I did so,since Of Beast and Beauty was stunning,heartbreaking.amazing and is one of the best retellings I've ever read.

Of Beast and Beauty is the story of a blind princess Isra and her prisoner Gem.Set in a dystopian world with a paranormal concept,Of Beast and Beauty is how the love of Isra and Gem saves the world which is ruled by black magic

One of the most beautiful things about the book is that we actually don't know who's the beast and and who's the beauty when it comes to Isra and Gem.Isra may be the beauty on the outside,but still she is the beast who imprisoned Gem.And Gem may be the beast by appearance though he's the beauty who sacrificed himself for his family.I loved how they both had a mix of beast and beauty in themselves.

And it was beautiful how the terms were defined.Stacey Jay has done quite a wonderful job in convincing us that being a beast and a beauty is not judged by outer appearance,rather by our intentions and attitude.

“Beauty is wherever you find it, and Beast is there when you need to defend it.” 

I felt a deep connection towards Isra.My heart broke for the blind girl who doesn't have anyone to love her.The princess to whom no one listened to because she was blind.It was heartbreaking to see how the council treats her.They don't see her as a human being,rather an object from which they could get advantage.She was so poorly treated and I felt so sorry for the innocent,naive girl.

“And what good is a voice when so few will listen?” 

And I also admire her strength.Even when she was betrayed,let down and taken advantage of,she didn't give up.She was determined to achieve her goals,whether it was a medicine she's trying to create or her love for her prisoner Gem.

Gem was an interesting guy.Though his intentions regarding Isra weren't actually genuine,it was amazing to see how much trouble he goes through to help his family and people.He was a rough character with a soft center,and he was utterly adorable when he was confused with his feelings for Isra.

The romance between these two were beautiful,heartbreaking and magical.I loved the slow burn in the romance,as it takes them a lot of time to understand and act on their feelings for each other.And the sexual tension was killing me.

“They won't take the time to see that Gem's claws aren't extended, that his arms are gentle around me, or that my fingers linger over his. They won't notice that I lean into him, not away, or that my head turns to look over my shoulder, bringing my cheek so near his mouth that his silent breath warms my skin. They would never in a thousand years imagine that my eyes slide closed and a shiver runs through me not because I fear for my life but because Gem's body is pressed against mine, because his hand on my belly makes it ache, because the longing to taste him is stronger than it was before...
I would kiss him until I was breathless.” 

Since the book has multiple POVS,it was wonderful to see their conflicting emotions.They don't want to give in to their feelings and try to fight it,only to fail miserably.

“Its pointless. Hopeless. Even if she weren't afraid of me, we'll always be enemies at the core. She rules a wicked, selfish city, and my tribe suffers for her peoples comfort. Shes a queen; I'm her prisoner. I resent her and she fears me, and there are times when I fear her, too. I am her monster, and she is mine. But right now none of it matters.” 

“A part of me is eager to be back in my cell. At least there Isra cant cling to my arm, or brush her body against mine, or sigh through her parted lips, or tilt her face up with that look in her eyes. The one that make me want to strangle her. And kiss her. And strangle her some more. And maybe leap off a cliff after the strangling is done.” 

Stacey Jay's writing was beautiful.It is descriptive and you'll be able to connect deeply with the characters and situations through her wonderfully crafted sentences.It has a magical quality to it,and reminds you that it's a fairytale being retold,

“But maybe that isn't possible. Maybe the mind of the majority is always the healthy mind, simply by virtue of its numbers. Maybe it's the definition of madness to believe I'm right and everyone else if wrong, to find my thoughts rational and reasonable when almost the entire world finds them damaged and flawed.” 

Of Beast and Beauty is a beautiful love story that any fairytale lover would enjoy as it stays so faithful to the original fairytale,yet has its own variations and twists.It will also be a great choice to any romance fan.Isra and Gem's love is so beautiful and I am sure it will touch any readers' heart.