Review: Enchanting Fate

Enchanting Fate by Ashley Evercott is a twisted retelling of "Beauty and the Beast" in which the girl destined to break the beast's spell falls in love with one of the other cursed residents of the castle. It is the first book in the Fairy Tales of Gallia series, which is likely to contain other twists on popular stories. Fractured fairy tales are a popular niche, and I'll admit this was a concept I hadn't seen before in a retelling. The characters' motivations are clear, and their struggles are understandable. However, the solution to their problem seems so obvious that some chapters are frustrating to get through. I just wanted to see everyone live out their happy ending with their true love and stop obsessing so much over a misunderstood solution to the curse.

Marguerite is the daughter of a merchant whose business is about to go under. To restore her family's legacy, she must marry a wealthy nobleman who she doesn't particularly care for. However, fate has other plans in store for her. When her prized dog runs off, she finds herself in an enchanted castle where a kind-hearted servant named Claude welcomes her with open arms. The castle's residents are all cursed to take on beastly forms and will lose all sense of humanity after a set period. The only way to break the curse is for Henri, the castle's master, to fall in love and be loved in return. When the Enchanter who set the curse tells Marguerite that she is the key to breaking it, she feels responsible for falling in love with Henri for the sake of everyone residing there.

This story has some good themes and provides an interesting twist on "Beauty and the Beast." It promotes the idea that love can't be forced and must happen naturally. My biggest gripe is that among the cursed residents of the castle is Henri's ex, Isa, a servant who couldn't be with him due to their class difference. Although time moves differently in the castle, they are still cursed for more than enough time to figure out the solution long before Marguerite arrives. Marguerite's developing feelings for Claude are heartbreaking as well because both of them are so convinced they can't be together due to the curse that they never even try.

The book is told from four perspectives: Marguerite, Claude, Henri, and Isa. The characters are difficult to keep track of at first but become easier as the book progresses. Every character is conflicted about their feelings toward each other, to the point that the Enchanter seems like a cruel sadist for toying with their hearts in such a serious manner. There have been many complaints about the curse from "Beauty and the Beast" being too cruel a punishment not just on the beast, but the other residents of his castle as well. This book makes it worse by having an Enchanter who dangles the solution over their heads the whole time without telling them what it is. Despite the cruelty of the spell, the book has a satisfying resolution.

Enchanting Fate by Ashley Evercott offers an unexpected twist on the classic 'Beauty and the Beast' tale, exploring the complexities of love, fate, and redemption. While the book's pacing and character development may have some frustrating moments, the story's themes and emotional resonance ultimately shine through. With its unique spin on a beloved fairy tale, Enchanting Fate is a compelling read for fans of fractured fairy tales and romance. Despite some minor flaws, the book's satisfying resolution and thought-provoking themes make it a worthwhile introduction to the Fairy Tales of Gallia series.