To Beguile a Beast is the third instalment in Elizabeth Hoyt’s Legend of the Four Soldiers series. The series features an ongoing story arc concerning the massacre of Spinner’s Falls during the French-Indian war in which a regiment of British soldiers was ambushed, slaughtered and tortured by Indians. Several years after the event, a group of survivors suspect the regiment was betrayed by one of their own and determine to find the traitor. Each book in the series features a self-contained love story.
Helen Fitzwilliam is the beautiful mistress of the powerful Duke of Lister. Over the years, Helen has come to fear and despise Lister, but she’s terrified to leave him as she knows he will insist upon keeping their two children, nine-year-old Abigail and six-year-old Jamie. At the beginning of the book, Helen has fled the duke with the aid of her friend Melisande, Viscountess Vale. Changing her name to Helen Halifax, she and the children travel incognito to a decrepit Scottish castle to work as servants for the reclusive Sir Alistair Munroe.
Sir Alistair Munroe is a naturalist and the author of a renowned book on the flora and fauna of New England. He conducted research for this book in the American Colonies while attached to the 28th Regiment of Foot, until he was captured and tortured at Spinner’s Falls in 1758. Seven years later, he is horrifically scarred, both physically and emotionally. He’s retired from the world with his beloved dog for company and only one drunken servant to attend him. His castle is literally falling apart but he is indifferent to the squalor in which he lives.
When a woman claiming to be his new housekeeper shows up enexpectedly with two children in tow, his period of splendid isolation comes to an abrupt end. Alistair sends them packing but Helen is tenacious. Soon, Alistair finds himself the master of a house full of servants and a castle which threatens to become habitable. In spite of his trepidation, Alistair finds himself warming to both Helen and her children. But before domestic bliss can develop, a sinister outsider threatens his new-found happiness.
Elizabeth Hoyt is one of the most consistent historical romance authors writing today. I’ve enjoyed all of her books and loved some. Unfortunately, To Beguile a Beast did not live up to Hoyt’s usual high standards. The story is told partly from Abigail’s point of view and I disliked a child having a POV in a romance. I felt it added nothing to the story and detracted from the time spent on Alistair and Helen.
My main problem with the story centres on Helen. She has been the Duke of Lister’s mistress since the age of seventeen. She’s spent the last thirteen years living in luxury, and is not even required to sleep with the duke anymore. Although she describes him as a villain who would deprive her of her children, at no point do we see proof that Lister is evil. So I failed to understand Helen’s motivation for leaving him in such an abrupt manner and risking her children’s comfort and safety. Her desire for freedom and love seemed very modern notions and didn’t ring true.
In addition, Helen and Alistair’s relationship lacked substance. They had sexual chemistry but their conversations revealed no other obvious common traits. My impression was as follows: Alistair loved Helen because she was beautiful and kind; Helen loved Alistair because he offered her and the children protection. To me, this is an inadequate romance.
Despite my reservations, there’s no denying that Elizabeth Hoyt is a consummate storyteller. At the back of the book, there is a tantalising preview of the fourth and final book in the series, To Tempt a Devil. I was delighted to see that a certain gentleman will be the hero of this book, thus confirming a hunch I’ve had about the Spinner’s Falls Massacre since book one. Grade: C+
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Wow, we had a completely different reaction to this book. I actually enjoyed getting Abagail’s point of view. I thought it was an unusual approach for a romance novel.
Lister doesn’t have to be ‘Evil’ for Helen to have a legitimate reason to leave him. But, I can see how this notion might seem too modern for a woman of that time period.
As for Helen and Alistair’s relationship, I didn’t notice any lack of development. I thought they fit well together, like two lost souls finding comfort in each other.
Great review though! I love to have an opposing view point. It makes for a more interesting discussion.
Funny how for me Abigail’s POV was one of the things I truly liked about this book.
And great to see how the same book has an opposing effect on different people.
@Jill D. @Pearl This is definitely my least favourite of Hoyt’s books, yet I’ve only read positive reviews of it so far. My absolute favourite is ‘To Taste Temptation’, yet many people consider ‘To Seduce a Sinner’ superior.
I’m sorry you didn’t like this one. I’m sure I’ll still pick it up. I’m a huge Hoyt fan. Thanks for the review though. Now I’m curious to see what I think.
@Kwana If you’ve enjoyed the Legend of the Four Soldiers series so far, it’s well worth reading. After reading the preview of the fourth book, I am really looking forward ‘To Tempt a Devil’!
And that for me was the least favourite of the Four Soldiers books…My fav Hoyt book remains THE LEOPARD PRINCE from her other series. And after that TO TASTE TEMPTATION but I do have high expectations for TO DESIRE A DEVIL, the last Four Soldiers book!
That’s too bad. I actually had a similar reaction to book one in this series, to the point that I’ve put off reading book two. I’ll have to see if I like that one before I commit to any more.
@Pearl @heidenkind In general, this latest series seems less popular than her previous trilogy. I enjoyed all three of the Prince books. Of this new batch, ‘To Taste Temptation’ was the only one I consider stand out. Here’s hoping Book Four lives up to my expectations.