The Beast by Katee Robert

My Rating: 🟊🟊🟊🟊🟊

Spice Rating: 🌶🌶🌶🌶 (It's HOT!)

Blurb:

Once upon a time, I fell in love with two men. Their feelings for me were matched only by their hatred for each other.

Gaeton, with his brash charm and casual cruelty.

Beast, his lust equal to his penchant for violence.

Being with them was sinful and perfect in different ways. In the end, I couldn’t choose, and I lost them both.

Now, my sisters have tasked me with securing our power base, no matter the cost. I will do anything for my family—even if it means agreeing to the terms set by Gaeton and Beast.

The three of us. Together. But only for as long as it takes me to choose one of them once and for all.

When playing games of power, happily ever after isn’t a priority. Not even for me.

Especially not for me.

My Review:

This story dives headfirst into a bold, reworked fairy-tale world where familiar characters are pushed far beyond their traditional roles. Rather than aiming for a sweeping, lyrical romance, the novel leans into intensity, both emotional and physical, using a provocative setup to explore power, desire, and complicated relationships.

At its core, the book follows a three-person dynamic that’s messy in the best way. Conflict doesn’t come from easy villains or misunderstandings that could be solved in a single conversation; instead, it grows out of misaligned expectations, unspoken needs, and emotional vulnerability. Each character is allowed their own perspective, flaws, and motivations, which keeps the tension feeling grounded even when the plot ventures into more extravagant territory.

What makes the story stand out is how deliberately it handles communication and consent. These elements aren’t just background details, they actively shape the relationships and drive the plot forward. The result is a narrative that examines what happens when people struggle to articulate what they want, and how honesty (or the lack of it) can either fracture or strengthen a bond.

The fairy-tale inspiration adds an extra layer of intrigue, twisting a well-known story into something darker, more adult, and refreshingly unconventional. Fans of inventive retellings will likely enjoy seeing how familiar themes are reshaped to fit this world. The book also plants seeds for future installments, giving readers a glimpse of what’s coming next without pulling focus from the current story.

Overall, this is a novel that knows exactly what it wants to be: daring, emotionally charged, and unapologetically different. It won’t appeal to everyone, especially readers looking for a traditional romance, but for those interested in complex dynamics and imaginative retellings, it offers a compelling and memorable experience.