I stood on the edge of that abyss between man and beast and played my harp for you, checking each note, one by one, to see if it would reach you.
The Beast Player is the story of Elin and her bond with Beasts. For years the law between man and Beasts is simple, they will never be loyal to us, they will never be tamed, they will always be wild.
This book went completely in a different direction to where I thought it would go, I expected the typical political/royal secrets thing. Elin to be the girl that breaks all the rules and cause it all to come tumbling down. And this book kind of is that, but it's so much more.
After Elin's mum is murdered by her she is raised by a kind stranger. Before she dies her mother tells her never to control the Beasts as it's a grave sin, years later Elin finds herself in a sanctuary for Royal Beasts and question everything that her mother said and how Beasts are reared in captivity.
This book focuses on Elin's bond with the Beasts and the bonds she makes whilst growing which makes a welcome change to what this book could have been if it was more like the current YA books around. This is truly a beautiful book and would really recommend reading it.
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I don't like the English title because it removes Eren/Erin/Elin's name. Probably because it's to feeeeemale.
Overall the book relatively follows the anime, however the beginning of the book jumps straight to the action and the ending is vastly different from the anime. The book also doesn't have the two "commenter characters" either.
Overall the book gives a lot of perspective that the anime misses.
If you haven't watched the anime nor read this book, I'd say do both.