Liz Braswell has made herself a staple in the fantasy world with her take on the childhood classic “Beauty and the Beast” by creating a twisted tale called “As Old as Time.” 

The tale tells of how a beautiful enchantress curses a young prince, turning him into a hideous beast and binding him to his forgotten castle in the woods. The only way for the beast to turn back into the handsome prince he used to be is by finding true love. 

A cliché tale, yes, but always a childhood favorite. Author Liz Braswell though, takes this classic story and puts a twist on it — what if the Enchantress that cursed the beast was Belle’s mother? 

This story follows not just Belle, but her father Maurice as well. One day, Rosalind goes missing, leaving Maurice and young Belle alone in their small cottage in the village. As Belle ages, her desire to leave the cottage and explore intensifies. Her father, on the other hand, wants to stay put in their small home in case her mother returns. Much to Belle’s dismay, she stays with her father and waits for the return of her mother, whom she barely remembers.

In “As Old as Time,” the point of view changes for each chapter of the book, starting in the past when Maurice meets Rosalind, the Enchantress, and changing to the present when he accompanies Belle on her adventures. In doing this, the chapters from the past provide insight into the present chapters, giving an acceptable backstory to the current events of the novel. 

The story seems to use the definition of the word “twisted” loosely, which is something I have mixed feelings about. While I do enjoy reminiscing over my favorite fairy tale, admittedly I had higher hopes for this “twisted” tale. When I hear the word “twisted” I start thinking of Grimm tales and dark storylines. If Braswell were to include gory details or add darker undertones to the overall story, then maybe a Grimm effect could be achieved. 

Toward the end of the book, this story does have its fair share of dark moments. However, it is not what I had expected after hearing of the other tales in Braswell’s series. For instance, the twisted tale of “Aladdin” is centered around the idea of Jafar being the first person to summon the Genie. Having that in mind, the twist in “As Old as Time” seems quite tame. 

Other than the misleading idea of a Grimm tale, I actually really enjoyed this story. The way Braswell inconspicuously sets up plot twists in advance is admirable. The suspense she builds by causing conflict in a chapter from the present before switching to a chapter from the past left me on the edge of my seat on multiple occasions.

From the true intentions of a close family friend to the mysteries surrounding Mrs. Potts and her husband, this fantasy novel is full of ups and downs, and plot twists that leave readers waiting in suspense. By taking a classic fairytale such as “Beauty and the Beast,” Braswell creates a twisted tale fit for all audiences.