I really like Beauty and the Beast overall as a story and Disney movie but this backstory or retelling of the story of Beast was not my cup of tea. It was drawn out and boring to start. Also throughout most of the book the Beast never even knew the fault of his ways. It went on and on about his poor treatment of women and his arrogance and vanity and all the things he did to reinforce them. He didn't even believe that the curse had even worked until halfway through the book due to his arrogance. 
 What I did like was the back story behind the curse even though is was changed from the original version. 
 Circe was an interesting character for a witch. She cursed the prince for his arrogance and poor treatment of her but she was trying to teach a lesson not so much have her malicious revenge. Her sisters on the other hand were bent on him really suffering. 
 I also liked the servants and how they tried their best to help lift the curse though there was not much in the book about them. 
 Gaston played a big part in the book as Beast's childhood friend and later the one who ultimately tries to slay him. Whats odd is that there is no back story between him and Belle who he at one point after her imprisonment decides he must have as his bride. It is implied that he has been looking for her and that there is something more but no real explanation. 
 Belle's character was the same but flat and barely even a part of the book. 
 All in all I was bored and just kept reading because I wanted to get through it.