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No Better Than Beasts
A dark and captivating new take on the beloved Nutcracker story, ZR Ellor's YA fantasy debut, No Better Than Beasts, is perfect standalone novel for fans of Russian folktales, cursed kingdoms, fraught romance, and fairy tale retellings with a bite.
The Gogitdan siblings had suffered much to fight for their place in Szpratzian Society. Immigrants from the cursed neighboring kingdom of Kolznechia, they spent their childhood on the street and in workhouses until Vdradir, the eldest, lifted from poverty with the help of a wealthy patron.
Now nineteen, Nabik is a conflicted soldier, forever in the shadow of his older brother. Vdradir has been appointed governor, ruling and grasping for power with a merciless iron fist. And Drakne, their little sister, is a dancer who dreams of peace and comfort and protection. Together, they are as broken and divided as the land they once called home.
When a powerful enemy rises, and signs of war between the Szpratzian empire and Kolznechia begin to spread, the siblings are forced to choose―cling to power and safety or save the remains of their tattered bond? When Rat Kings and Pinewood Princes force them into the Kolznechian woods, the siblings will be forced to fight for their home and humanity with teeth and claw...
The Gogitdan siblings had suffered much to fight for their place in Szpratzian Society. Immigrants from the cursed neighboring kingdom of Kolznechia, they spent their childhood on the street and in workhouses until Vdradir, the eldest, lifted from poverty with the help of a wealthy patron.
Now nineteen, Nabik is a conflicted soldier, forever in the shadow of his older brother. Vdradir has been appointed governor, ruling and grasping for power with a merciless iron fist. And Drakne, their little sister, is a dancer who dreams of peace and comfort and protection. Together, they are as broken and divided as the land they once called home.
When a powerful enemy rises, and signs of war between the Szpratzian empire and Kolznechia begin to spread, the siblings are forced to choose―cling to power and safety or save the remains of their tattered bond? When Rat Kings and Pinewood Princes force them into the Kolznechian woods, the siblings will be forced to fight for their home and humanity with teeth and claw...
352 pages, Hardcover
First published October 15, 2024
7 people are currently reading
400 people want to read
About the author
Z.R. Ellor
4 books287 followersZ. R. Ellor (he/him) is the author of YA contemporary novels MAY THE BEST MAN WIN and ACTING THE PART, and the adult fantasy SILK FIRE (written as Zabé Ellor.) He holds a BA in English Lit and biology from Cornell University. When not writing, he can be found running, playing video games, and exploring Los Angeles. Find him online at https://zrellorbooks.com/
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
October 18, 2024
2⭐️-🌶
The FMC is whiny and the writing is prosy-ish. I did not make it far. Plus, there's overbearing controlling males, and the weak little female cannot do anything for herself. Not for me.
The FMC is whiny and the writing is prosy-ish. I did not make it far. Plus, there's overbearing controlling males, and the weak little female cannot do anything for herself. Not for me.
December 17, 2024
This fantasy follows two siblings, Drakne and Nabik, in third person as they navigate their older brother, Fydir’s abusive moods while trying to make lives for themselves away from his control. They currently live in the Spratzian empire but came from Kolznechia where the Rat King now rules and the region is cursed turning the people into beasts. Fydir serves a wealthy patron, but seeks more power and wealth by using the people not only as laborers but to power machines via their souls, not to mention the atrocities he forces upon his siblings.
I listened to the audiobook in conjunction with an ebook from my library. I often find that more complicated fantasy and science fiction work better for me if I immerse myself in the reading. The audiobook was narrated by Max Meyers. This was my first listen by this narrator, and they did a fantastic job with all of the characters. I especially enjoyed their voice for the Rat King.
I thought the story had good characters with great development along the way. Both siblings had a personal journey to fulfill through the story. Nabik longed for his older brother's love and assumed the best of Fydir who did not deserve his loyalty. Drakne often resented that Nabik would always side with Fydir and felt that she was suffering alone with no power to stand up for herself. I admit to often being frustrated with both siblings at times, especially their decisions at opportune moments.
This is a rather dark tale with both physical and emotional abuse, heartbreaking child labor and soul engines, which just gave me the heebie-jeebies. At the heart of this story is a set of siblings torn apart by greed, power and resentment. If I had one complaint, it was that I never felt like I was given a clear motivation behind why Fydir changed from a loving brother to an abusive one, it was alluded to but never really explained enough for my liking.
Recommended to those interested in fantasy, retellings, and The Nutcracker.
Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for a copy provided for an honest review.
I listened to the audiobook in conjunction with an ebook from my library. I often find that more complicated fantasy and science fiction work better for me if I immerse myself in the reading. The audiobook was narrated by Max Meyers. This was my first listen by this narrator, and they did a fantastic job with all of the characters. I especially enjoyed their voice for the Rat King.
I thought the story had good characters with great development along the way. Both siblings had a personal journey to fulfill through the story. Nabik longed for his older brother's love and assumed the best of Fydir who did not deserve his loyalty. Drakne often resented that Nabik would always side with Fydir and felt that she was suffering alone with no power to stand up for herself. I admit to often being frustrated with both siblings at times, especially their decisions at opportune moments.
This is a rather dark tale with both physical and emotional abuse, heartbreaking child labor and soul engines, which just gave me the heebie-jeebies. At the heart of this story is a set of siblings torn apart by greed, power and resentment. If I had one complaint, it was that I never felt like I was given a clear motivation behind why Fydir changed from a loving brother to an abusive one, it was alluded to but never really explained enough for my liking.
Recommended to those interested in fantasy, retellings, and The Nutcracker.
Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for a copy provided for an honest review.
January 1, 2025
4 stars 🌟
RTC!
RTC!
October 10, 2024
2.5⭐
It was a good book, just not really my style. I do think I would have enjoyed it more if I would have had a better knowledge of the Nutcracker story but it was still enjoyable without knowing much about it. The plot and characters were good, but the writing wasn't my favorite. I know a lot of people who will like this book and I will happily recommend them this book!
the audiobook was great I liked the narrator!
Thank you Netgalley and the publishers for an audio arc! All opinions are my own
It was a good book, just not really my style. I do think I would have enjoyed it more if I would have had a better knowledge of the Nutcracker story but it was still enjoyable without knowing much about it. The plot and characters were good, but the writing wasn't my favorite. I know a lot of people who will like this book and I will happily recommend them this book!
the audiobook was great I liked the narrator!
Thank you Netgalley and the publishers for an audio arc! All opinions are my own
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November 9, 2024firstly, thank you to the publisher for an alc!
unfortunately dnf @30% — i feel like i was dropped into this story with the expectation i would know the world’s lore; granted while i am somewhat familiar with the story of the nutcracker, there was more to this world i wish was explained before diving into the plot
as for the audio — i did enjoy the narrator! they did an excellent job
unfortunately dnf @30% — i feel like i was dropped into this story with the expectation i would know the world’s lore; granted while i am somewhat familiar with the story of the nutcracker, there was more to this world i wish was explained before diving into the plot
as for the audio — i did enjoy the narrator! they did an excellent job
Want to read
February 20, 2024The cover is gorgeous!
October 17, 2024
No Better Than Beast by CR Ellor and narrated by Max Myers, Who I thought did a brilliant job. This is a retelling of the Nutcracker a story I am not that familiar with the from what I know I thought the author did a great job although sometimes the story was told almost in an abstract fashion I thought Max Myers gave a great performance and said the perfect tone for the book. With magical realism in the story of siblings who although at once close for many reasons are fractured there’s even an LGBT sibling and Novak who I thought was perfect for that role. His loyalty and sweetness makes the ending that much better. Anyone familiar with the nutcracker I think will love this dark retelling I just really enjoyed this book just thought at times the way the story was told was strange.#NetGalley, #McMillanaudio, #ZREllor, #NoBetterThanBeast, #MaxMyers,
July 25, 2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.75/5
No Better Than Beasts is a darkly mesmerizing and delightful take on the Nutcracker with many fantastic characters and vicious tales.
No Better Than Beasts was so fun! From the first page, I knew it would captivate me the whole way through with its excellent pacing, beautiful prose, and fascinating characters. I loved the incorporation of folklore and fairy tales. The blending of key moments and aspects of the Nutcracker into the story was very well done, and I really enjoyed the twisty, magical plot. The romances were also lovely. I highly recommend checking out this debut YA fantasy!
Thank you to the publisher for the free ARC!
No Better Than Beasts is a darkly mesmerizing and delightful take on the Nutcracker with many fantastic characters and vicious tales.
No Better Than Beasts was so fun! From the first page, I knew it would captivate me the whole way through with its excellent pacing, beautiful prose, and fascinating characters. I loved the incorporation of folklore and fairy tales. The blending of key moments and aspects of the Nutcracker into the story was very well done, and I really enjoyed the twisty, magical plot. The romances were also lovely. I highly recommend checking out this debut YA fantasy!
Thank you to the publisher for the free ARC!
November 22, 2024
Did NOT like this. Mainly because I was so confused. I kept hoping for the worldbuilding and plot to "click," but it never did. We were simply plopped into the story and I never felt grounded. Maybe it was a quirk of the audiobook?
Pros: enjoyed the steampunk mixed with dark fantasy mixed with fairytale (ballet?) retelling. the curse that caused the beast transformations was interesting.
Cons: confusing. distant characters. the writing style was not my favorite (distant, moving from scene to scene too quickly). the narrator was not my favorite - he spoke almost too lyrically for a prose story, unless it was actually the writing?
I honestly couldn't tell you half of what happened in this book because I was 1.) confused and not following, and 2.) not interested because I was confused.
.
.
.
.
**content notes: light body horror, violence, abuse of a child (from a sibling). death. homophobia - one gay man mentions that it is not acceptable to like another man in his society. one bisexual character. one character that presents as male and female at different times - no mentions on any discrimination there.
**romance notes: kisses and insinuations - some sexual joking.
Thank you to Macmillan Audio for the gifted audiobook copy. All opinions and thoughts are fully and genuinely my own.
Pros: enjoyed the steampunk mixed with dark fantasy mixed with fairytale (ballet?) retelling. the curse that caused the beast transformations was interesting.
Cons: confusing. distant characters. the writing style was not my favorite (distant, moving from scene to scene too quickly). the narrator was not my favorite - he spoke almost too lyrically for a prose story, unless it was actually the writing?
I honestly couldn't tell you half of what happened in this book because I was 1.) confused and not following, and 2.) not interested because I was confused.
.
.
.
.
**content notes: light body horror, violence, abuse of a child (from a sibling). death. homophobia - one gay man mentions that it is not acceptable to like another man in his society. one bisexual character. one character that presents as male and female at different times - no mentions on any discrimination there.
**romance notes: kisses and insinuations - some sexual joking.
Thank you to Macmillan Audio for the gifted audiobook copy. All opinions and thoughts are fully and genuinely my own.
October 29, 2024
The lyrical prose in this novel helped to capture the imaginative world that the author created. The ambiance was dark and the effects of the curse on the land were well thought out and conveyed to the reader in an effective manner. I especially liked the gradual animal mutation. The political machinations in this one were intriguing and a bit complex, which may be why I was a little lost until things were beginning to wrap up. IVdradir reminded me of Ratigan from The Great Mouse Detective - I felt like he should have been the rat, not the lion. To put it another way, this is not the kind of story where you become sympathetic to the villain.
I enjoyed the overall atmosphere that was created, but struggled a bit with feeling the emotion behind the story and the actions of the characters. The motivations behind the characters decisions and drive were clear to me, but I had a hard time feeling their conviction.
It was a beautifully written story, but I did find it difficult to follow at times. The narrator for the audiobook did a fantastic job of bringing the characters to life and the variations in his voice lent well to character differentiation. What made the book difficult to follow at times, was the sudden switch in character point of views. It often took me a moment, usually a name being said, to figure out which POV I was listening to. I typically enjoy multiple POVs, but this one was tough for me. I think even section breaks in print form would still have made it difficult to keep track.
I think there is a lot of potential in this story, since without the confusing (to me) elements, it really is beautifully written.
I recommend this book to people looking for a fantastical nutcracker retelling.
Many thank to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for an early listening copy of this story. The opinions expressed are honest and my own.
I enjoyed the overall atmosphere that was created, but struggled a bit with feeling the emotion behind the story and the actions of the characters. The motivations behind the characters decisions and drive were clear to me, but I had a hard time feeling their conviction.
It was a beautifully written story, but I did find it difficult to follow at times. The narrator for the audiobook did a fantastic job of bringing the characters to life and the variations in his voice lent well to character differentiation. What made the book difficult to follow at times, was the sudden switch in character point of views. It often took me a moment, usually a name being said, to figure out which POV I was listening to. I typically enjoy multiple POVs, but this one was tough for me. I think even section breaks in print form would still have made it difficult to keep track.
I think there is a lot of potential in this story, since without the confusing (to me) elements, it really is beautifully written.
I recommend this book to people looking for a fantastical nutcracker retelling.
Many thank to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for an early listening copy of this story. The opinions expressed are honest and my own.
October 17, 2024
No Better than Beasts
Z. R. Ellor
YA dark fantasy retelling of the Nutcracker.
This one is about three siblings Drakne, Nabik and Fydir. Fydir is mean and abusive to his siblings even though he has raised them.
Drakne a ballerina who has magic. Her magic is being able to make others dance along with her. Nabik is a soldier and his magic is northern wizardry, he can read and grant wishes. Fydir is a spymaster and the epitome of a villain.
Drakne uses her magic on the Ray King. Nabik uses his magic on the Nutcracker Prince.
There’s a cursed forest… Have mercy! There ain’t no way! It turns the characters into animals, graphically.. This is where even more dark fantasy comes into play.
The vivid imagery and world building in this one is excellent. The scenes quite literally jumped off the pages. I was mesmerized by the way Z. R. Ellor was able to weave the Nutcracker into dark fantasy. This one is full of cursed kingdoms, Russian folklore, sibling relationships, villains, fairytales, and queer representation, this book has a bit of everything. It is perfect for the upcoming season.
Scroll to the other photos to see my interview with the Author.
Thank you to
Z. R. Ellor
YA dark fantasy retelling of the Nutcracker.
This one is about three siblings Drakne, Nabik and Fydir. Fydir is mean and abusive to his siblings even though he has raised them.
Drakne a ballerina who has magic. Her magic is being able to make others dance along with her. Nabik is a soldier and his magic is northern wizardry, he can read and grant wishes. Fydir is a spymaster and the epitome of a villain.
Drakne uses her magic on the Ray King. Nabik uses his magic on the Nutcracker Prince.
There’s a cursed forest… Have mercy! There ain’t no way! It turns the characters into animals, graphically.. This is where even more dark fantasy comes into play.
The vivid imagery and world building in this one is excellent. The scenes quite literally jumped off the pages. I was mesmerized by the way Z. R. Ellor was able to weave the Nutcracker into dark fantasy. This one is full of cursed kingdoms, Russian folklore, sibling relationships, villains, fairytales, and queer representation, this book has a bit of everything. It is perfect for the upcoming season.
Scroll to the other photos to see my interview with the Author.
Thank you to
October 9, 2024
No Better Than Beasts
By Z.R. Ellor
Narrated by Max Meyers
4.5 ⭐️
I had such a good time in this world. This version of The Nutcracker delivers on political plots, untold histories, mysterious magic, psychological impacts of neglect, and so much more. The world building provides vivid imagery from the start. I felt the story was non stop action between actual physical battles, high stress social/political situations, dramatic internal dialog, etc. The beast transformations were an interesting (in a good way) aspect as well. I do think it can be tricky to catch onto the storyline during the first 10% or so of the book. It starts fast right away and definitely took me a while to grasp it all. I read this via audiobook. Meyers was fantastic. I thought they hit this narration out of the park and absolutely recommend it.
Thank you NetGalley, Z.R. Ellor, and Macmillian audio for this audiobook ARC.
By Z.R. Ellor
Narrated by Max Meyers
4.5 ⭐️
I had such a good time in this world. This version of The Nutcracker delivers on political plots, untold histories, mysterious magic, psychological impacts of neglect, and so much more. The world building provides vivid imagery from the start. I felt the story was non stop action between actual physical battles, high stress social/political situations, dramatic internal dialog, etc. The beast transformations were an interesting (in a good way) aspect as well. I do think it can be tricky to catch onto the storyline during the first 10% or so of the book. It starts fast right away and definitely took me a while to grasp it all. I read this via audiobook. Meyers was fantastic. I thought they hit this narration out of the park and absolutely recommend it.
Thank you NetGalley, Z.R. Ellor, and Macmillian audio for this audiobook ARC.
October 15, 2024
A Joyfully Jay review.
4.5 stars
For all the holiday trappings of nutcrackers, winter balls, snowflakes, and Yuleheigh, No Better Than Beasts is a dark fantasy, with an emphasis on the dark. Humans cursed to become beaver folk are skinned for hats; children are fed to soul machines in a factory, trapped in the metal for months, years; there is some body horror, as humans are forced into animal forms with ears stretching, feathers tearing through skin, legs breaking and rearranging. There is a toxic, controlling, violent, and abusive parent figure; war and its consequences; and all of this in a book where wishes make candy castles and grand feasts, toys for winter, and bring back dead children. So be warned, there are beasts in these woods.
Read Elizabeth’s review in its entirety here.
4.5 stars
For all the holiday trappings of nutcrackers, winter balls, snowflakes, and Yuleheigh, No Better Than Beasts is a dark fantasy, with an emphasis on the dark. Humans cursed to become beaver folk are skinned for hats; children are fed to soul machines in a factory, trapped in the metal for months, years; there is some body horror, as humans are forced into animal forms with ears stretching, feathers tearing through skin, legs breaking and rearranging. There is a toxic, controlling, violent, and abusive parent figure; war and its consequences; and all of this in a book where wishes make candy castles and grand feasts, toys for winter, and bring back dead children. So be warned, there are beasts in these woods.
Read Elizabeth’s review in its entirety here.
October 3, 2024
No Better Than Beasts by Z.R. Ellor is such a fantastic dark YA fantasy. The world-building was exceptional and the characters are very well developed. The strain between the three siblings was a main focus point throughout the book and it worked very well for the story and plot. You will find secrets, betrayals, secret loves, folklore, and morally grey characters throughout No Better Than Beasts and I love that it is a standalone! The amount of detail Ellor put into this novel is extraordinary and it had me captivated and invested in the story from start to finish, I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys retellings, morally grey characters, a unique magic system, or lgbtq representation!
October 9, 2024
I've been searching for a long time for a dark Nutcracker retelling that I truly enjoyed. I liked this one, but it wasn't the most amazing thing I read. It's a solid 4, and I will recommend it, and here are my favorite parts. The Nutcracker wants to be human. The soldier wants to save him with love. She wants fear never to touch her again and become a queen. Not all are just heroes. Sometimes, heroes make mistakes. Sometimes villains have a strong reason for revenge and bitterness. There is a lot of action, war, and a bit of back and forth that sometimes confuses us, but overall, it's still a ballet I would watch. It has very beautiful imagery, easy to see by the descriptions.
And a wonderful first kiss.
It gave Witches of Eileanna and Klune vibes.
And a wonderful first kiss.
It gave Witches of Eileanna and Klune vibes.
October 15, 2024
I really enjoyed reading this. The magic was so much fun, and it felt like the perfect magic system for a book based on The Nutcracker! The book felt a lot darker than the ballet, and I loved the vibe. And, the plot, world-building, and characters were all amazing. It’s a very fast-paced book. I was a little confused at the start because there was a lot of information to digest, but I figured out what was happening as I kept listening. And the narrator did such a good job with this book, I was so enthralled by the narration and I think it added to the book.
If you like dark retellings, interesting magic systems, political/war plots, and lgbtq+ characters, you’ll love this book!
Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for this arc in exchange for an honest review.
If you like dark retellings, interesting magic systems, political/war plots, and lgbtq+ characters, you’ll love this book!
Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for this arc in exchange for an honest review.
October 10, 2024
No Better Than Beasts is a dark, imaginative, and fascinating Nutcracker retelling. To start, the cover is captivating and instantly draws the eye in. This story hits the ground running and never looks back. It’s so fast paced between action and political machinations. I really appreciated the world building and thought Ellor did a phenomenal job setting the scenes. I also thought the characters were well developed and felt Ellor did well exploring the sibling dynamics between them. I love a good morally grey character and Ellor knows how to write exceptional morally grey characters. I read this via audiobook and the narration by Meyers helped bring forth the classic Nutcracker vibes in a new and interesting way. Meyers had me engrossed in the story right from the beginning and I can’t recommend the audio enough.
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ALC courtesy of MacMillan Audio and Netgalley
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ALC courtesy of MacMillan Audio and Netgalley
November 19, 2024
DNF at 40%. I had a lot of trouble understanding the plot of this as well as the worldbuilding. I don't know if it would help more if I knew the source material better, but I could not keep track of anything that was happening or why it was happening and that really took away from the experience of the book.
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November 29, 2024DNF @ 14% — this a fantasy based on The Nutcracker which I’m not familiar with. I have read other books based on popular stories that I’m lot familiar with and still enjoyed them. However, I think you really need to know about The Nutcracker to enjoy this. I just couldn’t get into it. This is definitely a case of “it’s me, not you”.
November 5, 2024
Perhaps if I had a better idea of the Nutcracker (I’ve definitely watched different iterations of it before), maybe this book would be enjoyable? But I DNFed after 3 chapters. The writing style is not for me.
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August 1, 2024rtk SLJ
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