La Belle et la Bête (Beauty and the Beast)

Maas explicitly pitched the first book as a loose, dark fantasy retelling of the traditional French fairy tale "La Belle et la bete", blending it with Scottish and Scandinavian folklore.

Leprince de Beaumont worked as a governess in London, teaching young girls from wealthy families. She found Villeneuve’s original novel far too long, dense, and inappropriate for children.She stripped away the subplots, complex fairy politics, and adult themes to publish it in her educational magazine, Magasin des enfants. Her goal was to use the story as a didactic tool to teach young girls that a good character, compliance, and looking past outward appearances were the most important traits for a future wife. Because it was short and easy to read, Beaumont's version became the definitive blueprint for all modern adaptations, including the Disney films.