Robin McKinley's 'Beauty' is a breathtaking retelling of the classic fairy tale that manages to feel both familiar and refreshingly new. From the moment I cracked open the pages, I was transported into a world where magic feels tangible and characters leap off the page with vibrant personalities.

The protagonist, Beauty (a nickname she ironically carries), is one of the most relatable heroines I've encountered in fantasy literature. Her transformation from a bookish, self-conscious girl to a confident young woman happens so organically that you'll find yourself cheering for her at every turn. As someone who's always been more comfortable with books than social situations, I particularly appreciated how McKinley made her intelligence and love of learning central to her character rather than just superficial traits.

Where this retelling truly shines is in its atmospheric world-building. The enchanted castle isn't just a setting - it's practically a character itself. McKinley's descriptions are so vivid that I could practically smell the roses in the magical garden and feel the eerie presence of the invisible servants. The relationship between Beauty and the Beast develops with such subtlety and depth that when pivotal moments occur, they carry genuine emotional weight rather than feeling like obligatory plot points.

The supporting cast adds wonderful texture to the story. Beauty's sisters being kind rather than wicked was a delightful subversion of expectations, and their family dynamics felt authentic. The Beast himself is portrayed with remarkable nuance - terrifying yet vulnerable, monstrous yet gentle. His growing friendship with Beauty had me smiling at my book like a fool during my commute.

If I had one critique (and it's minor), it would be that the ending does feel somewhat rushed compared to the beautifully paced rest of the novel. After such rich development, I would have loved a few more pages to savor the resolution.

Having read numerous Beauty and the Beast adaptations over years as an avid fantasy reader, this remains my gold standard. It preserves all the magic of fairy tales while adding psychological depth and modern sensibility. Whether you're revisiting this classic or discovering it for first time, McKinley's prose will wrap around you like favorite blanket - comforting yet capable of transporting you somewhere extraordinary.