Hunted by Meagan Spooner (Fantasy)

Hunted by Meagan Spooner

Beauty, as she used to be called when she was little, knows she doesn't like life in town, even if her two sisters do. She struggles with the expectations of what life might and probably will be like for her. Basically, finding someone to marry, setting up a house and then having children. But, does she really want that? Or should she just accept that is what happens when you get older and grow up. Like how she used to be called Beauty, but now goes by Yeva, since that is a more proper name. Yeva still longs for those old days with her father when she would go hunting with him in the woods. But since her father became a respectable merchant and moved the family to the city, those days seems like such a distant memory for both of them.

When her father unexpectedly loses everything however, it appears the only avenue left to them is to return to the old hunting lodge and for her father to turn back to hunting. But he is much older now, and seems plagued by a mystery creature, or creatures that lurk in the woods. Yeva is concerned about her father, and when his dog comes back without him one night, she knows it is up to her to save him, or die trying. What she never expects is to find the creature that her father has been ranting about. And just what she will do to try to escape from him, once the creature has caught her.

Hunted by Meagan Spooner is a great retelling of the old fairytale Beauty and the Beast. This one has some different angles to it from some of the other stories out there and it adds to it. Highly recommended for anyone who enjoys reading retellings of classic tales with new spins on them.

Recommended for grades 7 and up.