Hunted by Meagan Spooner is a rich and atmospheric Beauty and the Beast retelling with classic fairy tale vibes. Set in the Russian countryside and Hunted follows a wealthy merchants youngest daughter as she discovers what she wants in life most when the tales she grew up hearing come to life.
After disaster strikes Yeva’s family and her father loses everything in a financial gamble, Yeva and her sisters find themselves having to move into their fathers old hunting cabin while he tries to pay off the debts hunting in the woods filled with the mysterious beasts from the fairy tales of her childhood. When a change of fortune comes that could bring Yeva everything she should want and would save her family from the ruin they are in, Yeva finds herself unable to accept what seems like their salvation. She finds she can’t ignore the feelings of extreme longing she feels, always wanting something more than what she has, even when it’s everything she thought she wanted. She is a strong female lead, in spite of her wishy washy nature. Her development throughout the story really is great.
I love how at the beginning of each chapter we get a look into Beast’s mind. Formatted like journal entries, they really help you understand his character and brings more insight into the dual nature of his complex character and the internal struggle between the two sides of him. Plagued by the same feelings of wanting as Yeva, they end up being connected in ways neither expects.
Every good clastic fairy tale has a solid mortal to the story, something to be learned and taken away at the end of the tale. Hunted is no exception. While it is a love story with fantastic beasts, dragons, and long forgotten castles in an enchanted forest, it’s also a tale about the dangers of always wanting more. The love story is sweet, but not the main focus. It’s more a journey of self discovery and acceptance for both Beauty and the Beast. At times the pace is a little slow, forgoing action for more focus on the emotional and interpersonal development of the characters.
Overall I really did enjoy the book and Spooner’s writing style. It will definitely be kept on my shelf for my young daughters when
