Beast
by Chawna Schroeder
October 2016
Gilead Publishing

Back Cover:

I am Beast. I serve the master.

For as long as Beast can remember, she has lived among her master’s dogs. With them she sleeps. With them she eats. With them she fights and struggles to survive. But through hunger and cold she dreams of one day becoming her master’s favorite, earning bones with meat and a place beside the fire.

When her pack scatters after a surprise raid, Beast must defend herself against slavers hunting down the loners.

They are so strong, and she is only a beast . . . or is she?

My Review:

Beast is an entrancing tale told first-person through the eyes of a young girl, “Beast”, who has grown up feral with a pack of dogs. She does not notice that she is different, and while she can understand what humans are saying, she cannot speak. When her pack is raided and she is carted off to be sold at a slave market, the men only see her value as an amusement to hunt as a beast. She meets another young girl who’s been captured by the slave traders; Tabby befriends the bedraggled Beast and gives her a new human name and a new hope, that they will be saved and go to live with Tabby’s father.

But will he come to save them? And will he even want such a beast?

With vivid imagery and intense scenes, Beast is captivating and beautiful. The first-person narration is exceptional and definitely makes the story. The allegory of redemptive love is highly beautiful. The inner thoughts of a young woman who is questioning her place, purpose, and worth is very believable and adds to the relatability and meaning of the story.

As the main character has no education, the book does trend towards a young adult tone, but don’t underestimate the draw of the psychological complexities. The story definitely appeals to all ages of allegory lovers and will provide a unique read for fantasy lovers as well!

Click here to buy Beast on Amazon.