I received this ARC from Publisher for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Hunted by Meagan Spooner Published by HarperCollins on March 14th 2017
Pages: 384
Amazon-Indiebound
Goodreads
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?
My Thoughts:
I so enjoyed Hunted by Meagan Spooner! Beauty and the Beast is one of my very favorite fairy tales. This fierce and feminist retelling had me hooked. It was my “gym book” and it kept me on the elliptical longer than I had planned. I just didn’t want to stop reading!
Yeva’s perspective was so interesting. Some of her interests and skills are typically considered “male.” Her father fostered her love of things like hunting and tracking when she was younger. However, now that she is a young woman she must put these things aside. Yeva longs for the woods and her bow. She also wants to please her father. These seemingly warring desires really strengthen her voice.
Throughout the story we also get glimpses from the Beast’s perspective. I don’t want to talk too much about these because I think it could be spoilery. I will say he is also struggling and feeling pulled between two worlds. Yeva and the Beast have so many differences, yet this commonality really shows the reader how they’re connected.
Spooners writing style is really gorgeous. I felt swept up in the story. I loved learning more about Yeva, her sisters, and her world. I also loved when Yeva would talk about the tales her father told her as a girl. These stories within the story really enhanced the lyrical and atmospheric feeling of the book.
Hunted is a beautiful addition to the fairy tale retellings in YA. I recommend it, whether or not you enjoy retellings or Beauty and the Beast! It’s simply a good story.
Brittany
Eeep, I also love Beauty and the Beast, so I’m thrilled that that book is both fierce AND feminist–how awesome 😀 I can’t wait to read it 🙂 Lovely review!
Brittany @ Brittany’s Book Rambles
kirsty @ kirstychronicles
Ah i’m so glad you enjoyed this. I chose this as my waiting on wednesday pick this week so this has just made me even more excited to read it! Great review <3