I read The Beast and the Bethany in 2020 and really enjoyed that middle grade book. So I was excited to see we were getting a sequel: Revenge of the Beast. Today I’m on The Write Reads Tour for this book. I’m going to tell you about this book and my thoughts. Keep on reading to find out more!

Genre: MG Fantasy
Length: 288 Pages
Publishing: 30th September 2021
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Goodreads

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?

Review

The Beast and the Bethany was quite the adventure filled with a lot of laugh out loud moments. It’s a quirky story, but so much fun. Add in some amazing illustrations and you have a really fun middle grade adventure. Revenge of the Beast is a sequel that continues right where the first book left off, so I definitely recommend reading that one first.

Revenge of the Beast didn’t disappoint with the humor and laugh out loud moments and the illustrations. We’re back with Bethany and Ebeneezer after Claudette ate the beast. They’re trying to get rid of the last signs of the beast and wanting to be good, but that’s easier said than done. I love that this book does focus on friendship and changing.

Bethany is a fun character. She’s starting to realize she doesn’t have to be bad or annoy others to get attention or what she wants. Being good can also be fun and rewarding. I liked that this book showed that trust has to be earned and after some of the pranks she pulled people had a harder time believing she was being honest. But people can change and Bethany definitely proves that.

My favorite part of this book was Ebeneezer’s story. We got to see more of his childhood and how he started his life with the beast. Some of this story definitely pulled on my heartstrings and I do understand him a bit more. I also love the way he discovered that being good isn’t so bad and his time with Bethany really was teaching him things.

The only aspect of this book I do want to mention as something that didn’t sit completely well with me was the new character we were introduced to – Gloria. She’s at the orphanage, because he parents don’t like her. Gloria bullies the other kids and is portrayed as bad basically. In the end I don’t feel like this side of the story was resolved. I could understand that this may be harder for some readers to see in a story like this.

If you’re looking for a funny, quirky middle grade adventure with some amazing illustrations I definitely recommend Revenge of the Beast. The ending made it clear we can expect more of this story and I’m excited to see where the author takes us to next with this story.

About the Author

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.

 

Revenge of the Beast was another interesting adventure, but it’s clear that the Beast will be back. I’ll have to keep an eye out for him later this year!