Leife Shallcross lives at the foot of a mountain in Canberra, Australia, with her family and a small, scruffy creature that snores. She has a tendency to overindulge in reading fairy tales, then lie awake at night listening to trolls (or maybe possums) galloping over her tin roof. Ever since she can remember, she has been fascinated by stories about canny fairy godmothers, heroic goose girls and handsome princes disguised as bears. She is particularly inspired by those characters that tend to fall into the cracks of the usual tales. She is the author of several short stories, including Pretty Jennie Greenteeth, which won the 2016 Aurealis Award for Best Young Adult Short Story. The Beast's Heart is her first novel.
A glorious debut from Australian author Leife Shallcross, The Beast's Heart retells 'Beauty and the Beast' in a compelling and surprising novel filled with peril, darkness, romance and beauty. An utterly enchanting fairytale retelling that breathes new life into a beloved classic. - Kate Forsyth, author of Bitter Greens and The Wild Girl I stayed up until the small hours finishing THE BEAST'S HEART. What a delight! This is a beautifully crafted, deeply romantic reworking of the fairy tale. Leife Shallcross opens a brand new window onto the old story, creating a cast of engaging characters whose fates we really care about - Juliet Marillier, author of the Blackthorn & Grim series I might have a new favourite Beauty and the Beast! 5 out of 5 stars to Leife Shallcross's utterly beautiful retelling The Beast's Heart. Gorgeous writing, magical romance at its best. Absolutely loved it - Sam Hawke, author of CITY OF LIES