As Old As Time by Liz Braswell Spoiler Free Review
Finished reading 6 November 2021 – 30 May 2022
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Less than 5-word critique: nostalgic, compelling, and unexpected.
(Sings) “Tale as old as time, true as it can be” (stops singing) This “Beauty and the Beast” retelling is a must for all fans of the trope, and the animated Disney film of course. This is not a biased opinion, since it is one of my favourite Disney movies ever, but this is another great twisted tale from the anthology series.
“As Old As Time” asks the following question: what if Belle’s mother cursed the beast? What ensues is the titular characters working together, trying to figure out the mystery behind the curse and reasons behind it. And what they discover is unlike anything they’ve ever imagined.
Liz Braswell’s writing is top-notch once again, engaging readers with her fun and brilliant voice. I also enjoyed her Aladdin retelling which is equally great.
The characters we know and love are excellently displayed as ones to root for and also more depth to them. I also imagined the voices from the animated movie speaking whenever there was dialogue.
The settings and world-building are just like the film all over again: gorgeous.
Recommended to those who enjoy:
*Disney
*”Beauty and the Beast” retellings and Disney movie versions.
*Fantasy
*Slow burn romance
*Charming characters
*Themes and messages about inner beauty and overcoming societal prejudice
*Characters from the animated version
*Magic
*Adventure
*Bookish heroines
*Gruffy heroes
