Alright, folks, today I have one of my favorite fairytale retellings — Beaumont and Beasley by Kyle Robert Shultz. As a lover of fantastical creatures and legends, I’m a bit of a sucker for the genre, but this one was unlike anything I had ever read before. It was hilarious. It had me laughing out loud throughout, and managed to offset the seriously-bad-apocalyptical-problems with sarcastic banter and slapstick humor in a way that kept it from getting too dark… because, seriously, if you think about it too hard, fairy tales are dark. But this was a fun new spin on them in the form of London hard-boiled detective meets time travel, monsters, and secrets, and I absolutely loved it.
The fairy tale isn’t over…
In the city of Talesend, where stories are history, Nick Beasley is the person to call when things go bump in the night…because he can prove that there’s nothing to fear. After all, magic and monsters aren’t real.
At least, that’s what Nick has been telling people for a long time. But when he’s afflicted with a very real curse while on an assignment for the mysterious Lady Cordelia Beaumont, he’s forced to drastically re-think his views on magic.
As an ancient evil threatens Talesend, Nick must join forces with Cordelia to save the city from terrifying monsters. But not all stories end in “happily ever after”…and Nick’s story has only just begun.
Amazon Blurb
This story is perfectly appropriate — the romance goes no further than a kiss, there is absolutely no language, and while there is violence, it is on par with most typical late middle grade books. It’s also full of easter eggs for those who read original fairy tales or book nerds in general. Furthermore, it was impressive writing for a self-published book. Those are sometimes a bit of a toss-up, but Shultz has put in the effort to make it on the same level as a traditionally-published novel, and has a great distinct writing style. See some of my favorite lines:
“’May I help you?’ inquired a maître d’ in an immaculate black uniform as I entered the Spinning Wheel. From his expression as he appraised me, I gathered that he would be more than happy to help me right back out the door.”
“He carried the hat and coat away, holding them at arm’s-length as if afraid they might suddenly come to life and order an appetizer.”
“I managed to force my attention off the alluring scent of her perfume and back to her father, reminding myself that Lady Cordelia was just a typical daughter of wealth – dressy, pampered, and uninteresting. At least, that’s what I thought until she picked up a buttered roll and flung it at a nearby woman’s hat.”
Suffice it to say that each POV character has a unmistakable… and often unmistakably humorous… voice. Also I got a kick out of reading the chapter headings. Overall, this is just a laugh-out-loud kind of book, and if you love witty dialogue, this is for you.
“’I’m not a dragon-man,” I retorted as I followed her. “I’m a dragon, full stop. Ancient and terrible. Don’t let the dashing handsome-twenty-eight-year-old-human disguise mislead you.’
‘Sure, whatever.” She beckoned me. “Come on, then, Mr. Ancient-and-Terrible.’”
“Dragon sneezes leave few survivors.”
If you like fairytale retellings or want to laugh, you should absolutely check the Beaumont and Beasley series out here.
Okay, folks, that’s all for today. Any other fairytale retellings I should check out? Let me know! Ciao!
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