I recognize that fairy tales are the new vampires, but that doesn't mean every fairy tale retelling will be a good one. Let me start by saying that I was so excited to read this. I met the author and it was her sheer happiness and excitement over the book that made me get it. However, I am left feeling disappointed with that choice. 
 Of Beast and Beauty is a twisted retelling of Beauty and the Beast. Isra, the blind princess of the land, is aware that she will soon die in a sacrifice for her city. In order for her city and people to prosper, she must give her blood (and life) over, merely because she was born a royal female. During an evening out, she meets Gem, one of the beasts from the second class desert people surrounding her life dome. While trying to steal the enchanted roses, Gem is captured and taken prisoner by Isra. Wanting to change the ways of their city and help the second class, she asks for his assistance and ends up falling for the beast. 
 Truthfully, it sounds more exciting than it actually is. For the first 150 pages hardly anything happens except repetitive phrases. 
 Each sentence sounded the same. They sounded the same because they were told the same way. Since they were told the same way they often sounded the same. Sometimes they only kind of sounded the same, but most of the time they sounded the same. The same sentences over and over. All the same. 
 That was a preview of the writing style. 
 Frustrating, much? 
 This was read aloud to me during a road trip and my partner in crime thinks it would have benefited from third person point-of-view. I agree; since so much description would have been different outside of the blind girl's eyes. I understand why she made it so detailed - since the character lacked sight - but would more dialogue have killed her? Dialogue not only develops the plot more, but gives us reason to understand the characters a bit. I had no connection with them upon the last page. 
 The one character I did like was Bo, a more refined version of Gaston. While he acted like a douche, at least his motives weren't always obvious. The bit of mystery was the only saving grace to this story.