2016 Rainbow Awards Honorable Mention: The Beast That Never Was (254-08-07-2016)

[reviews_and_ramblings]

1) Great plot development. The story is easy to consume and to follow and has a lot of logical progression to it. The plot is a little predictable in places, but overall, it's fun to read and enjoyable. They did some research and had some details that were very uncommon, but thoughtful. I can really appreciate that. It's the hallmark of a good writer not just to be able to put prose onto paper, but also to be able to use the setting and the culture of the setting in the plot in unique ways. The characters feel like real people. They have troubles and wants. Conflict is present. They don't feel like they fall flat, and characters whom you don't expect to relate to end up having some serious worries, flaws, and concerns. Good show overall! Clean and simple. A bit too much adverb use in some places where the adverbs can simply be replaced with a stronger verb. Overall, very pleasant and easy to read/consume, which is a pleasure. Recommended for consideration for an award.

2) This gorgeous re-imagining and refreshing interpretation of a classic fairy tale is a literary tour de force that awakens a fountain of possibilities for readers. As the forces of good and evil meet the conflicting reflections we each bring to our understanding of what it means to be different, Werlinger has achieved a poignant and powerful verbal picture of love, heroines and humanity.

The Beast That Never Was by Caren J. Werlinger
Lesbian Fantasy
Paperback: 246 pages
Publisher: Corgyn Publishing (May 22, 2016)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0996036865
ISBN-13: 978-0996036863
Amazon: The Beast That Never Was
Amazon Kindle: The Beast That Never Was

What if Beauty was the Beast? Lise’s father is dead, and the life of plenty and freedom that she has known as the daughter of the King’s Huntsman is gone. She must now live a life of duty to her mother and sisters, helping them to cope in their altered circumstances. But where her mother would have her wed a childhood friend to secure their future, Lise knows that is not what she longs for. When she meets a mysterious woman in the forest, Lise feels the stirrings of emotions she cannot give voice to, but with this woman, she doesn’t have to say anything—Senna knows. Cursed, hunted, and feared, Senna has been forced to wander from place to place for more years than she cares to remember. She gave up hope long ago that there could ever be an end to her isolation. Odd sightings in the forest—monsters of legend come to life, old enemies back from the past, fearsome beasts on the prowl—begin to frighten the people of Lise’s village. Somehow, all of these things are connected to Senna. As the villagers’ fear grows, so does their hatred. Senna prepares to flee, accepting what has become her fate, but Lise isn’t ready to give up her one chance for happiness. Soon, only Lise stands between the villagers and the woman she has grown to love.

Rainbow Awards Guidelines: http://www.elisarolle.com/rainbowawards/rainbow_awards_2016.html