Hunted by Meagan Spooner

Amisha | Biotechnology High School, Grade 9

Rating: *****

Yeva dreams of being a hunter like her father, Tvertko, used to be when they lived out in the woods. Yet, once her mother passed, her father moved their family to the village where she is stuck being one of the baronessa's ladies. When her father makes a risky and foolish mistake that destroys their family fortune, Yeva and her two sisters are forced to abandon their home and belongings and move to their childhood inn in the woods. There, Yeva’s father starts hunting again and goes missing which makes the girls suspicious. When Yeva goes out to investigate, she uncovers the truth about what monsters lurk in the woods. In this fairytale retelling of Beauty and the Beast, Spooner crafts an enjoyable plot featuring unique characters.

This novel was slow-paced which I enjoyed in this instance. Usually, novels that are slow-paced take too much time introducing the characters and setting, yet this novel’s eerie and well-crafted characters were perfectly introduced. This novel was told mostly from Yeva’s point of view but at certain points the readers were given insight into the Beast’s thoughts. Yeva’s character was very unique and unlike a normal ‘Beauty’ since she didn’t act like all the other ladies. She’s resourceful, tough, and doesn’t need a man nor a beast to do anything for her. Moreover, the Beast’s character was the most entertaining and idiosyncratic. It was frightening to see how the man and beast grappled for control and tried to overpower the others senses. Overall, this novel was a charming retelling that is sure to exceed all your expectations!