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The Beast's Enchantress
As punishment for using magic to save her sister from a most unsuitable match, proud enchantress Alexandria Floraison is banished from her home and stripped of her youth and beauty. By a magic mirror, of all things.
Alexandria is given two tasks by the curse the prince whose arrogant cruelty she once ignored, and find her way home—before the Magic Collectors find her and strip her of her powers forever, and before the mysterious woodsman who finds her lost in the forest finds out who she really is.
Alexandria is given two tasks by the curse the prince whose arrogant cruelty she once ignored, and find her way home—before the Magic Collectors find her and strip her of her powers forever, and before the mysterious woodsman who finds her lost in the forest finds out who she really is.
435 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 29, 2013
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143 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
January 29, 2014
A refreshing take on a familiar fairytale.
I had never thought about the enchantress who cast the spell on the prince and turned him into a beast - until I read Elizabeth Kitchen's novel. The opening description from Lady Alexandria (the enchantress) had me hooked.
Alexandria makes a decision to use her powers in a way that is sure to change both her and her family's lives forever. She is spirited away and faced with challenges that cause her to examine herself and grow in character. All of this is done in a believable, magical way, with a touch of a historical flavor.
I was drawn into a magical world, one skillfully presented by the author in a believable and enchanting (excuse the pun) way.
The book was well edited, the plot believable and the characters endearing. There is a romance, but this story offers more than the usual flavor of the genre. I found it refreshing and I will most certainly be reading more from this author.
Recommended if you ever loved a fairytale - and this one is appropriate for your teenage daughter to read.
I had never thought about the enchantress who cast the spell on the prince and turned him into a beast - until I read Elizabeth Kitchen's novel. The opening description from Lady Alexandria (the enchantress) had me hooked.
Alexandria makes a decision to use her powers in a way that is sure to change both her and her family's lives forever. She is spirited away and faced with challenges that cause her to examine herself and grow in character. All of this is done in a believable, magical way, with a touch of a historical flavor.
I was drawn into a magical world, one skillfully presented by the author in a believable and enchanting (excuse the pun) way.
The book was well edited, the plot believable and the characters endearing. There is a romance, but this story offers more than the usual flavor of the genre. I found it refreshing and I will most certainly be reading more from this author.
Recommended if you ever loved a fairytale - and this one is appropriate for your teenage daughter to read.
April 15, 2022
The first half of the book dragged, telling more than showing the protagonist's shallowness. The second half just served to demonstrate how useless she was at everything. I agree the premise was original, weaving through the Beauty and the Beast story, and yet.. She couldn't fight, couldn't figure out who the bad guys were, couldn't escape anything. Instead all she did was rail at her own incompetence, dream about vengeance if she had her magic powers back, and wait to be saved by a hero. It's a little antiquated to have ornamental, useless heroines and noble, capable men do all the interesting things.
EDIT: This story was so uncompelling the first time, I forgot I'd read it before and reread it again. I'm not as critical the 2nd time, but still... it is what it is. Could have been a little less matter-of-fact stated in everything that was the heroine's perspective (1st person narratives are overdone, imo).
EDIT: This story was so uncompelling the first time, I forgot I'd read it before and reread it again. I'm not as critical the 2nd time, but still... it is what it is. Could have been a little less matter-of-fact stated in everything that was the heroine's perspective (1st person narratives are overdone, imo).
December 11, 2013
I loved this book. I was drawn into the story and fully engaged throughout the reading. I found myself cheering Alexandria on in the hopes she would make the best choices. I enjoyed the author's sense of humor and beautiful descriptions. A debut novel well worth the read. I look forward to reading more from her in the future and am waiting for the next one to come out. Hopefully soon!
July 15, 2018
A read I thoroughly enjoyed, especially with it being from the viewpoint of the enchantress which is not readily found. While Beauty and the Beast have very minimal roles throughout, I feel this is a read all Beauty and the Beast enthusiasts will enjoy. In this adaption, Lady Alexandria Floraison has it all...beauty, talent, a privileged life...but pride may be her undoing if she can't learn to see past what her eyes alone behold. Even though spells are cast and fates are changed, hope still remains. Will Lady Alexandria find compassion before it's too late?... Kitchens did an amazing job with this debut novel. The writing style and descriptions transported me to this fairytale world. I am looking forward to more from this author and hope to see even more of the Floraison family in the future.
February 22, 2025
**Disclaimer: I am friends with the author; however, she did not ask me to write this review and does not know I am writing it. I will receive no compensation for this review.**
***There are minor spoilers in this review.***
The Beast's Enchantress by Elizabeth Jane Kitchens is a re-telling of the classic fairy tale "The Beauty and the Beast" from the point of view of the enchantress. The reader follows the enchantress as she herself learns the lessons she tasks the Beast to learn. Spoiler: She and the Beast share the curse.
Kitchens's style is easy to read. It is simple in that one does not need a dictionary on hand to make sense of it. However, it is at the same time sophisticated. The writing, and thus the story, flow smoothly. There is a temptation to make it a quick read. But reader be warned! Quick reading puts one at risk for missing sentences full of quiet beauty and humor, such as "My breath, which must have walked instead of ran, finally caught up with me, and we resumed the road together." Overall, her style is reminiscent of a fairy tale but full of subtle elegance.
The plot can be a bit too predictable at times. However, it is the re-telling of a fairy tale and should not be read for the plot. No, it should be read and enjoyed for the way Kitchens brings to life what was previously a background character. Her plot is subtle, full of gentle turns to guide the reader through a fresh exploration of those tired themes of "appearances can be deceiving" and "true beauty is found within." The "humble pride" of the enchantress serves as a good foil to the cruel arrogance of the Beast. One would not immediately recognize that her cold indifference and his cruelty stem from the same ailment of the heart. Kitchens does a wonderful job bringing this to light.
Kitchens's talent shines best in the character development of the enchantress At the beginning of the book, the enchantress is little more than what she is in the fairy tale: a flat character that simply moves the plot forward. As the story progresses, Kitchens slowly adds depth, slowly reveals her to be more than a plot device in someone else's tale. This is the heart and joy of this book.By the end of the book, she is a character in and of herself ready to have many more adventures.
The reader will also enjoy the development historical setting: a time long enough after a great magical war that it has started to become a myth but not too long that it has passed out of memory altogether. The stories of this war beg to be told, and I hope the author will tell them.
In many ways, this book serves as a prequel to Kitchens's writing career. May it be a long and prosperous one.
***There are minor spoilers in this review.***
The Beast's Enchantress by Elizabeth Jane Kitchens is a re-telling of the classic fairy tale "The Beauty and the Beast" from the point of view of the enchantress. The reader follows the enchantress as she herself learns the lessons she tasks the Beast to learn. Spoiler: She and the Beast share the curse.
Kitchens's style is easy to read. It is simple in that one does not need a dictionary on hand to make sense of it. However, it is at the same time sophisticated. The writing, and thus the story, flow smoothly. There is a temptation to make it a quick read. But reader be warned! Quick reading puts one at risk for missing sentences full of quiet beauty and humor, such as "My breath, which must have walked instead of ran, finally caught up with me, and we resumed the road together." Overall, her style is reminiscent of a fairy tale but full of subtle elegance.
The plot can be a bit too predictable at times. However, it is the re-telling of a fairy tale and should not be read for the plot. No, it should be read and enjoyed for the way Kitchens brings to life what was previously a background character. Her plot is subtle, full of gentle turns to guide the reader through a fresh exploration of those tired themes of "appearances can be deceiving" and "true beauty is found within." The "humble pride" of the enchantress serves as a good foil to the cruel arrogance of the Beast. One would not immediately recognize that her cold indifference and his cruelty stem from the same ailment of the heart. Kitchens does a wonderful job bringing this to light.
Kitchens's talent shines best in the character development of the enchantress At the beginning of the book, the enchantress is little more than what she is in the fairy tale: a flat character that simply moves the plot forward. As the story progresses, Kitchens slowly adds depth, slowly reveals her to be more than a plot device in someone else's tale. This is the heart and joy of this book.By the end of the book, she is a character in and of herself ready to have many more adventures.
The reader will also enjoy the development historical setting: a time long enough after a great magical war that it has started to become a myth but not too long that it has passed out of memory altogether. The stories of this war beg to be told, and I hope the author will tell them.
In many ways, this book serves as a prequel to Kitchens's writing career. May it be a long and prosperous one.
August 10, 2017
An "enchanting" tale about a character that has been given much too attention in the past--the Beast's Enchantress. Elizabeth Kitchens has remedied that oversight with this entertaining story. The overall moral is beautiful.
Kitchens' lyrical voice is perfectly fitted for this story. She especially shines in setting description. Not too much detail, but just enough to feel you're there in the scene. The characters were engaging and witty. A lot of fun to journey with.
One thing bothered me a tiny bit. The educated and knowledgeable enchantress's ignorance about the Woodsman and Magic Collectors' identities for so long, when they did so many suspicious things right in front of her, and though she was growing as a character and was able to see the truth about the other people around her. I suppose it goes along with the theme to show how blinded we can be when judging by appearance alone.
I'm impressed that this is a first novel and am very much looking forward to more from this author.
Extra note: this novel was exceptionally edited. I couldn't find a single mistake.
Kitchens' lyrical voice is perfectly fitted for this story. She especially shines in setting description. Not too much detail, but just enough to feel you're there in the scene. The characters were engaging and witty. A lot of fun to journey with.
One thing bothered me a tiny bit. The educated and knowledgeable enchantress's ignorance about the Woodsman and Magic Collectors' identities for so long, when they did so many suspicious things right in front of her, and though she was growing as a character and was able to see the truth about the other people around her. I suppose it goes along with the theme to show how blinded we can be when judging by appearance alone.
I'm impressed that this is a first novel and am very much looking forward to more from this author.
Extra note: this novel was exceptionally edited. I couldn't find a single mistake.
October 17, 2019
This book is a new and delightful take on the classic fairy tale of Beauty and the Beast! I was amazed by the creativity of the author – you won’t guess it all! The story was quick moving with never a dull moment – always interesting. It was an absolutely fascinating storyline. The characters were lovely and I really enjoyed getting to know each of them. I quite loved the Woodsman! This book kept me reading the whole way through, and I would definitely read more books by Elizabeth. I recommend this one especially for those who love fairy tales.
**Elizabeth Jane Kitchens, the author, sent me this book in return for my honest review. I wasn’t paid for this review in any other way, nor was I forced to review it positively. All opinions are my own.**
**Elizabeth Jane Kitchens, the author, sent me this book in return for my honest review. I wasn’t paid for this review in any other way, nor was I forced to review it positively. All opinions are my own.**
March 7, 2017
This book made me SO happy :) It took a few chapters before I was really hooked, but after Alexandria's encounter with the magic mirror I couldn't wait to see what would happen next. I loved the way the pieces of the story came together and the characters and events from Beauty and the Beast weaved into Alexandria's tale. The secondary characters were well-rounded and so fun to get to know. And the love story... *sigh* I can't really say anything about it without risking spoilers, but suffice it to say Kitchens has created one of the most delightful couples I've ever read. The evening I finished I had a big, stupid grin on my face all night (seriously, my husband kept laughing at me). If you enjoy fairy tales with romance, adventure, and a dash of mystery, you will love this book!!
October 8, 2016
I never wondered about the enchantress' story before and I really liked this fairy tale retelling.It really is sth new (at least to me).
The character development was great. The MC is not a bad person but she cares too much about outward appearance and that doesn't change suddenly but slowly and, therefore, felt more real. 5 stars for the idea, but I found the beginning a little slow and I wanted more background info about the magic and the magic collectors, so "only" 4 stars in total. Maybe a sequel will reveal more. I will definitely keep an eye out for one.
The character development was great. The MC is not a bad person but she cares too much about outward appearance and that doesn't change suddenly but slowly and, therefore, felt more real. 5 stars for the idea, but I found the beginning a little slow and I wanted more background info about the magic and the magic collectors, so "only" 4 stars in total. Maybe a sequel will reveal more. I will definitely keep an eye out for one.
June 12, 2017
I really wanted to like this book, I thought the concept was fantastic. Unfortunately the characters are not well developed and the plot dragged, the magic was also underdeveloped. Disappointing.
October 17, 2015
This book was quite refreshing and light hearted, a cute romance with an ingenious spin on recreating the Beauty and the Beast tale--from the view of the enchantress. Though the writing itself was sometimes choppy, I enjoyed the tale the author wove (and especially the countless allusions to other Grim's fairytale stories). For anyone looking for a new creative tale, this is for you!
March 12, 2016
It was a good book, however it was also slow. It took way too much time for the book to get started and then right in the middle it lagged again. Other than that it was a good twist to the Beauty and the Beast story.
December 15, 2015
Wonderful telling of the Enchantress
This is a wonderful new way to enjoy the beauty and the beast story, seeing it from a new angle and additional characters
This is a wonderful new way to enjoy the beauty and the beast story, seeing it from a new angle and additional characters
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews