Beasts and Beauty: Dangerous Tales

Soman Chainani

Sep 2021 · Sold by HarperCollins

About this ebook

You think you know these stories, don’t you?

You are wrong.

You don’t know them at all.

Twelve tales, twelve dangerous tales of mystery, magic, and rebellious hearts. Each twists like a spindle to reveal truths full of warning and triumph, truths that free hearts long kept tame, truths that explore life . . . and death.

A prince has a surprising awakening . . .                           

A beauty fights like a beast . . .

A boy refuses to become prey . . .

A path to happiness is lost. . . . then found again.

New York Times bestselling author Soman Chainani respins old stories into fresh fairy tales for a new era and creates a world like no other. These stories know you. They understand you. They reflect you. They are tales for our times. So read on, if you dare. 

THE SCHOOL FOR GOOD AND EVIL is the #1 movie now streaming on Netflix—starring Academy Award winner Charlize Theron, Kerry Washington, Laurence Fishburne, Michelle Yeoh, Sofia Wylie, Sophie Anne Caruso, Jamie Flatters, Earl Cave, Kit Young, and many others! 

Ratings and reviews

Beasts and Beauty is a collection of children's fairy tales retold in a way that can pass as genuine tales that are genuine, new, and thought-provoking. Some are happy enough endings while some aren't - leaving me sad, but I like that since the lessons in those stories were good reminders of how we all should see life. Fair warning: This book is NOT your typical retelling of fairytales. It can be brutal, harsh, and raw, leaving readers shocked, stunned, and maybe outraged! But, after everything, each story will leave readers an impression or affect how one looks at life from here on out. I appreciate the author making these timeless tales even more appropriate and "current" with topics that can apply to the "here and now" without prejudice. There are many character archetypes in this collection whose stories were written honestly and respectfully. Only a sensitive and conscious author who understands these types of characters can pull this off. The author did with all the "flying colors" in the color spectrum. I was delighted at how each story, very familiar and timeless in theme and "lessons," can still provide a fresh and twisted take on what Grimm wrote them to be. It is something that I would want to share with my children - to show them how they should see themselves, the world, and what they can do to make better decisions. The moral lessons of self-esteem, inner bravery, learning from mistakes and "correcting it," choosing their path, not just the "right path," intelligent choices, etc., are evident in the book. Story list: Red Riding Hood Snow White Sleeping Beauty Rapunzel Jack and the Beanstalk Hansel and Gretel Beauty and the Beast Bluebeard Cinderella The Little Mermaid Rumplestiltskin Peter Pan Do I have a favorite? It is hard to say because each story has a purpose and space that will help shape the reader's perspective about everything. I will share what some of the memorable stories are:- Story that Made Me Buy The Book: Little Mermaid The story got me hooked to buy it immediately. It is a story that I would want to share with my daughter. I want her to read it and realize that impulsiveness and not "having all the information" to make an informed decision will get you into a lot more trouble than you realize. Story that Made Me Cry: Peter Pan I don't know if it's because I am a mother and have kids, but this one got me all teary-eyed. It is the last of the stories, and it had me bawling! The story talks about impressions versus reality - true love can see underneath everything, and sometimes, one finds love and hope in the most unlikely characters. Story of Empowerment: Snow White The author changed this story and "break the cycle" made me smile from ear to ear. This story shows readers how one person or group standing up and finding the courage to pave "a new path" will impact the future. The artwork at the end of the story is perfect! PROS: gripping, honest, entertaining, world-building, page-turner, inspirational, empowering, controversial, inclusive, "made-me-smarter," humorous, and paradoxical. CONS: nothing, BUT there should be a follow-up to other stories or a part two of this collection! Tropes: retellings, new age genre readers, romance, contemporary readers, LGBTQ+, twisted thought-provoking stories, and controversial topic readers

This book was so amazing🥰❤️❤️ (especially the last story!!!!!! I definitely didn't cry...)

About the author

Soman Chainani's six novels in the School for Good and Evil series each debuted on the New York Times bestseller list. The series has sold over 4.2 million copies, has been translated into 35 languages, and has been adapted into a film by Netflix that debuted at #1 in over 80 countries. His collection of retold fairy tales, Beasts and Beauty: Dangerous Tales, was also an instant New York Times bestseller and is in development to be a television series from Sony 3000.Soman is a graduate of Harvard University and received his MFA in film from Columbia University. Every year, he visits schools around the world to speak to kids and share his secret: that reading is the path to a better life.

Julia Iredale is an artist from Victoria, BC. She earned a Bachelors degree in Illustration from Emily Carr University in 2015, and now works as a freelance illustrator for clients around the world. Her work is informed by her love of mythology, dark fantasy, and human psychology, weaving these together to create beautiful, mysterious characters and worlds.