The Beast of Ten

Soon after this book and I were properly introduced, I realized I had vastly underestimated its depth. Originally, when I had met a few of the main characters, I'd thought that the story would be a retelling of Beauty and the Beast. A wicked creature, a kind-hearted girl, a bargain to save her father, a castle locked out of time... While a few hints of that lovely story flavor this novel, it is altogether very much so its own story--and in the most fascinating way.I've read few fantasy novels that don't rely heavily on systems of magic already created. It's difficult to come across refreshing, new ideas. Ms. Brower, however, has managed to capture a world unique to any I've visited. Her detail in this realm was incredibly intricate and rivaled the creativity I've so admired in Brandon Sanderson's books (and if you know how I feel about Sanderson, comparing any book to his is an immense compliment).But above all, the character development winding through the thick plot was what BLEW me away! It really is masterful, a storyteller who can pull off such a drastic character change without it seeming fabricated or rushed. Few have the patience reality requires. Luckily for us, Ms. Brower does.Oh, and the cover artwork!! It looks lovely on my shelf, as an added bonus. Well worth the cost of a physical copy. If you're in the mood for an enchanting world, witty humor, and characters that will undoubtably steal your heart, this is your book!

I loved this book! Brower’s use of imagery in her prose is matched only by her understanding of character, and the human heart. Her characters are each complex, believable, and wildly intriguing (particularly, our titular Beast of Ten in the making). And while Brower had many opportunities to take expected roads, and use familiar plot devices, she keeps the reader guessing, unraveling the story as one might wish to traverse the winding hallways of the Pyre.Similarly, Brower’s world building is rich and concise. She’s created a fascinating mythos that stands powerfully on its own, yet left me as the reader hungry for more, whether with our band of established heroes, or in an entirely separate country/era.I thoroughly enjoyed her use of light and shadow in terms of magic, but maybe even more so in its allegory. It’s so refreshing to read a contemporary novel with a hero/heroine who is of noble character. Ember is selfless, compassionate, vulnerable, and while she begins the tale a bit timid and unsure, she finds her courage, and fights against the darkness despite the odds.I’m honestly tired of the on-going trend that labels selfish, pleasure-seeking characters as heroes, and frames their roguish antics with praise. That’s not to say Brower’s characters are without flaws—quite the contrary—but they battle upstream against dark forces for the right reasons (most significantly, redemption). Brower perfectly balances traditional heroism with relatable quirks, and insecurities.I would recommend this book to anyone, and hope it spreads more through word of mouth!

This is the kind of book that grabs your heartstrings and holds on long after you finish it! The characters are so well fleshed out--deeply authentic, with all their strengths and flaws, they just feel true. It's a terribly beautiful story about darkness and light and redemption and despair and hope. The setting is enchanting. The heroine is wonderfully strong, and the villain is deliciously complex. Beth Brower is a truly gifted author who just bleeds life onto every page! One of my most favorite books EVER, and I've literally read hundreds!

The Beast of Ten tells a story that is immediate, visceral and beautiful in it's narrative and description. Ember's journey is personal and demanding, and yet, in some ways, allegorical of the journeys we are all called upon to take, and like Ember, to decide if we will finish the path we have been set upon.Beth Brower's use of language and her skill in presenting her characters as fully-formed, complex individuals is well done, indeed. Readers will be pulled into the beauty of the cold, wintery Forest of Naeethe, and the mystery and power of the Pyre, as they seek with Ember the light, to battle against great darkness.

This book was incredibly well written. And the story, like all of Beth Brower’s is heartbreaking and beautiful.