Review: Best Beauty and the Beast Adaptation Ever!
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 11 19, 2012
Jax Garren is an incredible writer with an intriguing debut novella to prove it! The first tale of The Underlight, How Beauty Met the Beast, superseded my expectation of enjoyment. More than a fairy tale retelling with a casual twist, How Beauty Met the Beast has Garren's unique touch to a familiar theme with the added bonus of a whole new world comprised of secret factions and amazing characters.Amazing might be a grand understatement when describing the leads in this story. Wesley Hauk, an Agent of the Underlight, is a physically damaged and scarred ex-soldier with a condition and past cast in mystery and suspicion. He keeps to the shadows hoping to fight against the evil spread throughout the world in the most trusted places, like the government and media. After a night of a dangerous mission and high-speed chase, Hauk stumbles upon burlesque dancer Jolie Benoit. Jolie may have a job she keeps secret from her super moral and uptight parents, but she's the sweetest, most caring character in the book. Well, next to Hauk that is. Though Hauk is a muscle-heavy warrior with a scary outward appearance, he's as kind as they come, even when others shy away from his looks. Hauk and Jolie have a wonderful chemistry that doesn't take up time in the plot, but makes me wish it did. Even the secondary characters gravitate to the duo with ease enough to give the story a very homey feel.While I could fill this review with all the reasons why Jolie and Hauk are incredible characters, I have to mention how different this plot is. For a story written in novella style, Garren manages to create character back stories, genuine relationships, and an intricate rivalry between The Underlight and its enemy - Order of Ananke. Garren pulled me into How Beauty Met the Beast so easily, as I imagine the sequels will do just as well. The world is modern, but underground the Underlight is electricity free and filled with environmentally sound technology. Hauk's world is close to primitive and bursting with more background to be explored. The deeper you read into the story the wider the focus becomes until there's a world that feels like your own, real in just about every way.How Beauty Met the Beast captures the familiarity of the physically imperfect character that finds hope in someone who is not only beautiful on the outside, but the inside as well. This is one of my favorite themes, especially after reading Garren's enticing impression, because it highlights the better side of human nature. Even in the midst of hardships, danger and betrayals, Jolie learns to see deeper than Hauk's menacing appearance to his passion and the truths he tells about their world. I am so excited about the Tales of the Underlight and what the series has in store. I have to say that the next installment, How Beauty Saved the Beast, is one of the tops reads I'm anticipating!*eGalley provided in exchange for an honest review*Also posted on Lovey Dovey Books