"Haunting, funny, suspenseful, sweet. Fresh and modern with plenty of plot twists. . . All readers will have something with which to identify. Iredale's illustrations are gorgeous, bloody, and magical." - Horn Book (starred review)
"A brilliant, bloodthirsty fairy-tale collection. Twelve well-known tales are retold through a racially, ethnically, and sexually diverse lens for a modern audience." - School Library Journal
"A volume that transports readers to a place where the lines between beastly natures and beautiful appearances can be difficult to discern. Expertly crafted . . . Chainani's writing is raw in what it lays bare on the page, perfectly appropriate to revisiting these beloved, ubiquitous stories that may have left readers with naïve expectations or dissatisfied conclusions. For any lover of fairy tales who seeks alternative endings." - Kirkus Reviews
"Chainani takes 12 time-honored tales and overhauls their traditional tellings, adding an astonishing amount of depth and beauty in the process. Lush, transporting, and occasionally eerie, easily conjuring fantastical worlds. . . An intriguing and inclusive update for modern audiences." - Booklist
"Terrifying, chilling, unexpected, and glorious. A must-read for any fairy tale devotee who wants to view classic stories through a new lens." - Medium
Beasts and Beauty puts a fresh spin on everyone's favorite fairytales. - Culturess
"Vigorous, chilling. Chainani is a terrific storyteller." - Wall Street Journal?
Soman Chainani's six novels in the School for Good and Evil series each debuted on the New York Times bestseller list. The series has sold over 3.7 million copies, has been translated into 35 languages, and has been adapted into a film by Netflix that debuted at #1 in over 80 countries. His collection of retold fairy tales, Beasts and Beauty: Dangerous Tales, was also an instant New York Times bestseller and is in development to be a television series from Sony 3000.
Soman is a graduate of Harvard University and received his MFA in film from Columbia University. Every year, he visits schools around the world to speak to kids and share his secret: that reading is the path to a better life.
Julia Iredale is an artist from Victoria, BC. She earned a Bachelors degree in Illustration from Emily Carr University in 2015, and now works as a freelance illustrator for clients around the world. Her work is informed by her love of mythology, dark fantasy, and human psychology, weaving these together to create beautiful, mysterious characters and worlds.
