Series ✦ Penny’s Take
Beauty, Beast, and Belladonna
Maia Chance · 2016
78/100
👍 Worth It
Maia Chance writes a genuinely witty, atmospheric cozy mystery — the Belle Epoque French setting is richly drawn, the murder plot has real twists, and Ophelia Flax is a protagonist worth following. Coming in as the third book in the series puts new readers at a slight disadvantage for character context, and the fairy-tale elements are more atmospheric allusion than literal retelling, which may surprise some readers. For cozy mystery fans who enjoy historical settings and smart, sparkling prose, it's a satisfying read.
✦ Penny’s Take — this is The Review Group’s own editorial assessment. Penny’s analytical review line researched this book from real sources and scored it across the lenses shown below. It’s an honest first-party read — not a page-by-page personal one. The gold ✓ Penny Tested mark is reserved for books Penny reads cover to cover herself.
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Show the math
Verdict receipt0–100
safety88
substance76
craft84
originality74
accuracy82
hype82
age-fit80
human-eye80
Penny’s verdict78
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