Short and Sweet:
I loved this charming and beautifully written story!
To Elaborate...
Lately, I've been very hesitant about reading Beauty and the Beast retellings. As I've mentioned before probably (since this consumes my life right now), I'm doing my honors thesis on 3 YA Beauty and the Beast retellings (Cruel Beauty, Beastly, and Of Beast and Beauty). I've been semi-avoiding others because I haven't wanted it to distract me from the ones I'm ridiculously analyzing. However, when I saw this one on NetGalley, I couldn't resist. It looked SO CUTE and that cover, gah! Beautiful. I decided to make an exception, and I'm so glad I did.

The writing in this story is absolutely beautiful. It's like magic itself and reminds me just a bit of The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender (prose stylistically). It reads super quickly, and I loved every bit of it.

What I love most in the incredible feel of the story. In the beginning, Sarah's parents are splitting up (no known magic at this point), and it feels so real. I absolutely adore when stories are full of magic but are so grounded in the painful realities everyday people deal with all the time. As she slowly discovers the immense magic around her, her life doesn't just up and become a fairytale. Yes, there are beasts; yes, there is a handsome boy; and yes, there are curses and magical atmospheres galore. Even so, that doesn't mean everything is perfect. Her grandmother is cold, the boy isn't all he seems, and there is no magic kiss that fixes everyone's problems.

This is definitely one to pick up in the new year. It's a completely lovely middle grade, but it can easily be enjoyed by all ages. I can't wait to read more from this author!

Originally posted at I Heart YA Fiction: http://iheartyafiction.blogspot.com/2014/12/review-beastkeeper-by-cat-hellisen.html