6 Romances Inspired by the Magic of Beauty and the Beast

When Beauty Tamed the Beast, by Eloisa James
Linnet Thrynne is beautiful, but unfortunately, according to rumors flung about in high society—she’s carrying a royal bastard. Since she finds herself basically unmarriagable to anyone, she agrees to marry the Earl of Marchant, who the rumors say is impotent (with a temper that is certainly not.) Problem solved: a girl with a soiled reputation can ensure the succession of a noble house…except that Linnet isn’t pregnant, and when she meets Piers Yelverton, her intended husband, she’ll soon learn that the rumors about him aren’t true, either. This twist on a classic fairy-tale is a delicate slow burn of sensual romance with unforgettable characters who are more than what they appear.

Lord of Scoundrels, by Lorette Chase
Sebastian Ballister is the Beast in this retelling—called the “Bane and Blight of the Ballisters”, his reputation precedes him, as does his penchant for unholy acts with unholy women. But when he meets Jessica, everything he ever thought was true ceases to exist. Jessica, however, knows one thing for certain: Sebastian is the one who got her brother into trouble, and she’ll rescue him at any cost—even if that means marrying him. A romance by candlelight this is not, but rather a spark of lightning shooting across the sky.

The Phantom of the Opera, by Gaston Leroux
You’ve finished watching a classic movie, why not read a classic book? The Phantom of the Opera tells the story of Christine, a young opera singer raised in the Paris Opera House after the death of her father. Her childhood friend Raoul comes to visit, but despite their reunion, Christine is keeping a dark secret: her teacher, the “ghost” of the Opera House, who hides in the darkness because of a disfigurement that rendered him an outcast in society. The Phantom grows jealous of Christine’s bourgeoning love for Raoul, and seeks to keep her close at all costs. This story does not end with the Phantom magically transforming into a Prince worthy of Christine’s love; rather, it is a tragedy about finding love in the light and passion in the dark.

Entreat Me, by Grace Daven
Ballard has been cursed to lose his humanity and his mind due to a curse he cannot undo—but it is a small price to pay to protect his son, Gavin, who should also be affected by the curse, but because of Ballard’s sacrifice, is not suffering the full effects. Gavin is tasked with finding a cure for the curse before losing his father completely, when he meets Louvean and Cianna, a pair of sisters seeking sanctuary from debts they can’t repay. When Ballard and Louvean begin to fall in love, they dare to hope that their curse may be broken after all. For diehard fantasy fans, this is a unique take on the story with a strong heroine.

The Bride and the Beast, by Teresa Medeiros
It is 1700’s Scotland. (Outlander fans, take note!) Brandon was once a lord, before his family was killed and he was forced into imprisonment. Now free of one kind of prison, he has self-imposed himself into another, becoming a recluse in a ruined castle—and eventually, a myth to the villagers who live below him. Gwen has grown up with the legend of the dragon-man, but when she is betrayed by her community and left to him as a sacrifice, she summons the bravery to confront him. In that one act of defiance, love begins to bloom.

The Fire Rose, by Mercedes Lackey
“She really is a funny girl that…Rosalind!” But in 1905 high society, highly educated Rosalind Hawkins is definitely considered odd compared to other women who only care about marriage and luxury. Even if Rosalind cared about those things, she couldn’t have them—her father has died and she’s run out of money, so she becomes a governess. But when she arrives to find her employer (who she never sees face-to-face due to a disfigurement that he keeps hidden) doesn’t actually have any children—and even stranger, that he respects her education and wants her to work with him on medieval language translation—Rosalind realizes her life will continue to be anything but ordinary. Magic, mystery and love make this a must-read.
What romance novels