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(Rest assured, this is a far cry fromBeastly.)

On the one hand, its a resonant experience to feel so immersed in the Beasts loneliness.

Book-4-split

Credit: Penguin (2); Feiwel & Friends; Balzer + Bray

Shallcross beautifully paints his isolation, his brooding turning Heathcliff-esque.

This provides startling insight into a man cursed not for his cruelty, but his own fear of affection.

Yet staying in the Beasts headspace renders some of the source materials more problematic aspects especially glaring.

Angie Thomas, On the Come UpPublisher: Balzer + Bray

Balzer + Bray

But what throws a wrench intoDeath Prefers Blondesis that theres just too much happening.

Its a lot to keep track of, and Roehrigs wonderful characters get lost in the intricately connected plots.

Sequels are nice, dont get me wrong!

The Beast’s Heart by Leife Shallcross

Penguin

But theres a real pleasure in diving into a world knowing the stay will be short and sweet.

(There was blood smeared across my stolen dress, Keralie narrates at one point.)

The flaws here are familiar for a debut; Scholte simply takes on too much at times.

Death Prefers Blondes by Caleb Roehrig

Feiwel & Friends

(The sci-fi concepts, particularly, never feel as fleshed out as the fantasy elements.)

Four Dead Queens by Astrid ScholteCR: Penguin