Hannah Howell

The second half of this book is definitely the better written half (the book is two novellas sharing the same world and characters). However, both stories struggled from their shorter length. I think expanding both by a hundred pages or so would have added the needed depth. BUT that would have defeated the purpose of this book. So although it’s a bit uneven, overall I enjoyed the concept of two authors writing stories taking place in the same world with character connections. I also really like the world of this book. I am a highland ho soooo that’s not unexpected :)… (mere)

I love Beauty and the Beast retellings, but this is not one, despite the title (my first mistake). Then I read the entire book, hoping it would improve (second mistake: spoiler - it didn't).
Glytha is the beauty and Thayer is the beast (he has red hair?). He marries her because of a promise made but doesn't trust her because he knows she's going to cheat on him. This is because a woman cheated on him in his youth. She wants to be a good wife, but honestly, he's the worst. Meanwhile, there's all this drama that just seemed stupid and made the book way too long. It's an earlier Howell book and I read the reissue, but it could use a rewrite.… (mere)