Self published young adult novel which retells the classic story of Beauty and the Beast.

To save his family from poverty, Marius, a young artist, goes to live in the dark abode of a mysterious Beast. He soon discovers there is more to his captor then meets the eye. There is a curse upon the Beast born of tragedy and pain, and only the compassion of a young man’s heart may break it.

Excerpts

“A large statue of a bird, finely carved from black stone, stood at the center of the town. It dwarfed the nearby we l by four feet at least. It was a raven from its beak and overa l sleek form. The stone was wrapped tightly in thick, thorny vines. I could see my dim reflection in its large dark eyes. Its hooked beak appeared frozen in a scowl, with long icicles hanging like fangs. Sharp talons clutched its perch. I couldn’t help but stare every time I passed by it. There was something about the eyes which captivated me. I approached the small bronze plaque at the raven’s feet and rubbed away some snow. It was completely blank, with only a smooth brown plate in the stone.” (Chapter 1)

“Another window depicted that same crest of the raven and the rose, and that same Latin phrase. I knew that phrase. In Somnis, Veritas. In dreams, truth. It must’ve been a family crest. But what did dreams have to do with anything? The ba lroom was large enough for a hundred guests at least. But it was as silent and empty as a crypt. I wondered if anyone ever danced in here, or of this place had seen any life at all.” (Chapter 5)

“I wondered if I was too forward with Faustine. With what Finley told me, she imagined herself as ugly. And yet… she wasn’t ugly. I didn’t know her true face, but the way she looked now was not at a l frightening. But knowing what created her, I can’t imagine what she feels. To be abandoned by the ones who were supposed to care about you the most— The thought sent a shard of pain through my heart. The endless night and cold made too much sense. If this place was her dream, then her emotions were laid bare for a l to see. I felt nothing but sympathy for her.” (Chapter 10)

Previous

Short Story: The Cold Place