TESSA TALKS BOOKS

Blurb

Lemony Snicket meets Roald Dahl in this riotously funny, deliciously macabre, and highly illustrated sequel to The Beast and the Bethany in which Bethany and Ebenezer try to turn over a new leaf, only to have someone—or something—thwart them at every turn.

Once upon a very badly behaved time, 511-year-old Ebenezer kept a beast in his attic. He would feed the beast all manner of objects and creatures and in return the beast would vomit him up expensive presents. But then the Bethany arrived.

Now notorious prankster Bethany, along with her new feathery friend Claudette, is determined that she and Ebenezer are going to de-beast their lives and Do Good. But Bethany finds that being a former prankster makes it hard to get taken on for voluntary work. And Ebenezer secretly misses the beast’s vomity gifts. And neither of them are all that sure what “good people” do anyway.

Then there’s Claudette, who’s not been feeling herself recently. Has she eaten something that has disagreed with her?

• Genre: MG Fantasy
• Length: 288 Pages
• Publishing: 30th September 2021
• Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Revenge-Beast-2-Bethany/dp/1534478922
• Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/58410828-revenge-of-the-beast

What’s it about (in a nutshell):

Revenge of the Beast (The Beast and the Bethany #2) by Jack Meggitt-Phillips is a creatively quirky story about an orphan, an immortal man, and a man-eating beast. In Revenge of the Beast, Bethany and Ebenezer are trying to start fresh now that the Beast is out of their lives. But changing minds is not as easy as they think it will be.

What I Enjoyed:

I enjoyed getting to know Ebenezer better. The look back at his life is fascinating. It provides the necessary layers that his character needed to be fully developed. I found it much easier to understand his connection to Bethany and willingness to conquer the Beast for her because of his story.

I have a real soft spot for Bethany, even when she is particularly frustrating and ingratiating. I admire her desire to do good just for the sake of the community, and I feel her frustration over people not letting go of her prankster past. She is no longer the angry little girl lashing out at anyone and everyone. She has found her place with Ebenezer, and she wants to share with everyone how that has impacted her.

The character-driven story is fast-paced, with plenty of suspense to spur it on. It is told through third-person narration and exudes the quirky charm inherent in the author’s sense of humor. The artwork is delightful and reflects the story perfectly.

Characters:

Bethany was developed well in the first book, and in Book 2, we learn a great deal more about Ebenezer. His past story is shared, and when added to his current reactions to the Beast, work together to create a well-developed, intriguing, sympathetic, and problematic character. I loved the complexity of this character.

Reminds Me Of:

The publisher compares this story to Lemony Snicket and Roald Dahl, and I can definitely see similarities. The dark, quirky humor is in keeping with both authors’ stories.

What I Wish:

My only wish is that this story entertains the middle-grade reader and gives them something to think about as they follow Bethany’s struggles in life made much worse by that dreaded Beast.

To Read or Not to Read:

The Beast and the Bethany series is perfect for even the youngest middle-grade readers.

Jack Meggitt-Phillips is an author, scriptwriter, and playwright whose work has been performed at The Roundhouse and featured on Radio 4. He is scriptwriter and presenter of The History of Advertising podcast. In his mind, Jack is an enormously talented ballroom dancer, however his enthusiasm far surpasses his actual talent. Jack lives in north London where he spends most of his time drinking peculiar teas and reading P.G. Wodehouse novels.