In an act of hubris, railroad tycoon and Firemaster Jason Cameron attempts a spell for which he is magically unsuited. The spell fails, and his body is warped into a shape halfway between a man and a wolf. Jason shuts himself up in his elaborate mansion with only his elemental servants and his apprentice as company.
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Determined to reverse the damage wrought by the spell, Jason finds himself in need of a linguistic expert to transcribe his magical grimoires. He sends for Rose Hawkins, a medieval scholar whose father's death has left her in impoverished circumstances and in need of employment. Rose believes that she has been employed as a governess, but upon her arrival, it is revealed to her that she is to translate strange and esoteric documents to a man she is to never see. Jason hopes to keep Rose in the dark about the existence of magic, but Rose soon learns the truth. Eventually, Rose comes face to face with her mysterious employer, and feelings between the two begin to grow.
In the meantime, Jason's apprentice, Paul du Mond, forms an alliance with Simon Beltaire, Jason's magical rival, and the two plot against Jason. Paul has his own unsavory plans involving Rose, and when his actions provoke a wolflike rage in Jason, Rose flees the mansion for the city—right into Beltaire's territory. And in the midst of the great earthquake of 1906, Jason confronts Beltaire, while trying to obtain the means to restore his human form, and save the woman he loves.
The review of this Book prepared by Quortoth
Rosalind Hawkins is an impoverished medieval scholar, employed as a governess by a mysterious rail baron. It emerges that her employer is a gruff sorceror, transformed by a spell into a pain-wracked beast and surrounded by enemies waiting to take advantage of his current weakness. Rosalind must discover her own inner magic to save him, and finds herself falling in love with him also. This book is a cunning retelling of the 'Beauty and the Beast' fable, set in turn of the century San Francisco.
The review of this Book prepared by Emily Veinglory
Rose Hawkins needs a job and there are few options for a woman with a scholarly bent during her time period. Seeing no other choice, she accepts a job that turns out not to be what she thought it was. She ends up doing some very odd research for a rich man named Jason Cameron. He needs her help to find a cure for his condition, a way to reverse the half man, half human form his pride and his spells gave him. Rose has to wrap her logical mind around the idea of magic. Jason doesn't have much time, though; he's afraid of how much of his personality is becoming like that of a wolf, and he's afraid that, very soon, his worst enemy will discover his current weakness and attach him.
The review of this Book prepared by Melissa Cookson
Rose Hawkins, an orphaned University student in turn of the century Chicago, travels to San Francisco to do research for the elusive millionaire, Jason Cameron. Little does she know that the research is magical in nature, as Jason struggles to find a cure for his animalistic condition. This retelling of Beauty and the Beast is romantic and definitely enjoyable.
The review of this Book prepared by Valerie Frankel
