Stephanie S. (skywriter319) -
Helpful Score: 7
BEAUTIFUL CREATURES seems poised to be the next big thing in YA literature. It's got all the right elements: eclectic characters, villains, magic, and true love. It's almost 600 pages long, but you'll be unable to put it down, even during the slower and more confusing moments.
The story of Ethan and Lena is primarily a romance, one that will appeal to YA romance buffs who appreciate Stephenie Meyer's Twilight and Maggie Stiefvater's Shiver. This means that at times their romance can feel a little unbelievable in its intensity and all-encompassing-ness. However, that the story is told from Ethan's point of view makes it wonderfully sweet, a romance to swoon over. Ethan is an accessible protagonist whose complex feelings of alienation, desire for hometown escape, and doomed love for an unaccepted girl makes him heartachingly real and desirable in readers' eyes. Ethan Wate will make all bad YA boys ashamed of their rebelliousness, and that's saying something.
One might mistakenly expect that a 600-page YA book would be tedious and slow-moving, but BEAUTIFUL CREATURES just might prove that long YA books are the best kind. The story moves along at a delicious and deliberate pace, slowly building atmosphere and making you beg to have your growing list of questions answered.
Overall, you won't regret reading BEAUTIFUL CREATURES, no matter what kind of reader you are. From the paranormal aspect, to the romance, to the rich Southern atmosphere, this book will be sure to draw you in. Don't miss out on the book that is worthy of all the hype it's getting!
The story of Ethan and Lena is primarily a romance, one that will appeal to YA romance buffs who appreciate Stephenie Meyer's Twilight and Maggie Stiefvater's Shiver. This means that at times their romance can feel a little unbelievable in its intensity and all-encompassing-ness. However, that the story is told from Ethan's point of view makes it wonderfully sweet, a romance to swoon over. Ethan is an accessible protagonist whose complex feelings of alienation, desire for hometown escape, and doomed love for an unaccepted girl makes him heartachingly real and desirable in readers' eyes. Ethan Wate will make all bad YA boys ashamed of their rebelliousness, and that's saying something.
One might mistakenly expect that a 600-page YA book would be tedious and slow-moving, but BEAUTIFUL CREATURES just might prove that long YA books are the best kind. The story moves along at a delicious and deliberate pace, slowly building atmosphere and making you beg to have your growing list of questions answered.
Overall, you won't regret reading BEAUTIFUL CREATURES, no matter what kind of reader you are. From the paranormal aspect, to the romance, to the rich Southern atmosphere, this book will be sure to draw you in. Don't miss out on the book that is worthy of all the hype it's getting!
Sarah W. (lucyhoneychurch) reviewed Beautiful Creatures (Beautiful Creatures, Bk 1) on + 12 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 7
This book was so dreadful! It poorly written, the plot meandered vaguely without ever gathering steam, there were multiple elements introduced in the beginning in a confusing mishmash or foreboding that were left hanging without ever being referred to again, the emotions were bland, and the teen angst insipid. Although the authors seemed to attempt to include a social commentary about the sometimes insular, bigoted attitudes of the deep south, they did so without including the complex, nuanced human emotions which might have really brought that world to life. But worst of all was the authors' use of that puritanical American trope so beloved in the Twilight series that, "[Pre-marital]Sex Will Kill You!" - I mean a story about a teen couple that can't get physical because it will incinerate one of them? Everything that's wrong with America's attitudes towards responsible sexual behaviors right there.
Jenny M. (griz1girl) -
Helpful Score: 5
I realize this book is old news...and the series is already 4 books long. But can I just say YAWN?!? B-O-R-I-N-G!
I tried so hard to like this book & get invested in the characters...and I've read some really awesome YA series...and this book is NOT it.
You want a fantastic YA paranormal series? Check out Rachel Vincent's "Soul Screamers" series. Want a really honest, gritty love story that makes you want to read it over & over again? Try Katie McGarry's "Pushing The Limits." You want a sweet romance with a please-let-this-work-out-for-them-ending? Pick up Karen Ann Hopkin's "Temptation."
You want to get carpal tunnel holding a 600 page book that makes reading the Bible seem like a fast page-blasting read? Check out "Beautiful Creatures."
Other reviewers had said this book took time to get rolling. So after 200+ pages I felt I had given it all I could give...and I started skimming. By the end I realized that the FINAL chapter was just a re-cap of all the stuff happening in the VERY BEGINNING of the book. What-ev-er.
I should've spent my time cleaning the house. Doing laundry. Filtering the cat box. Anything would've been more useful than reading this...........
I tried so hard to like this book & get invested in the characters...and I've read some really awesome YA series...and this book is NOT it.
You want a fantastic YA paranormal series? Check out Rachel Vincent's "Soul Screamers" series. Want a really honest, gritty love story that makes you want to read it over & over again? Try Katie McGarry's "Pushing The Limits." You want a sweet romance with a please-let-this-work-out-for-them-ending? Pick up Karen Ann Hopkin's "Temptation."
You want to get carpal tunnel holding a 600 page book that makes reading the Bible seem like a fast page-blasting read? Check out "Beautiful Creatures."
Other reviewers had said this book took time to get rolling. So after 200+ pages I felt I had given it all I could give...and I started skimming. By the end I realized that the FINAL chapter was just a re-cap of all the stuff happening in the VERY BEGINNING of the book. What-ev-er.
I should've spent my time cleaning the house. Doing laundry. Filtering the cat box. Anything would've been more useful than reading this...........
Karissa E. (ophelia99) reviewed Beautiful Creatures (Beautiful Creatures, Bk 1) on + 2527 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 4
I got an ARC of this book through the Amazon Vine program. This was an interesting book and I am still struggling a bit about how I feel about it. Parts of it were great and parts were very deliberate and boring. This is a massive book; over 600 pages and it was an interesting story. It seems to me like the ending is left somewhat open for a sequel; although I wasn't able to find any information on whether or not there is going to be one.
Ethan Wate has been dreaming about a girl. In the dream he is always trying to hold on to her in a raging storm, but she always manages to slip away. This is the biggest event of his life right now given that he lives in the boring typical southern small town of Gatlin. Then one day a new girl shows up at school, Lena Duchannes. As a new girl she gets a lot of flack from the other kids, on top of that she is the niece of the town recluse who lives in the supposedly haunted estate of Ravenwood, which doesn't help her popularity with the kids any. When Ethan first sees her he realizes that she is the girl he's been seeing in his dreams. Ethan finds out that Lena is more different than he could ever have imagined. Lena is part of something big and, as her sixteenth birthday approaches, Lena will face the biggest challenge of her life. Lena will find out if the dark or light in her soul will prevail and the results will change who Lena is forever.
There were some things I liked about this book. The whole book has a very mysterious and urgent aura that hangs on every word. This book is as much a mystery as anything else. The characters are very well done. You are really pulling for Ethan and Lena throughout the book. The supporting characters are also very well developed; for example Amma and Ravenwood both have intricate and interesting pasts. You can tell a lot of work went into making this book as historically accurate as possible. There are a ton of interesting facts about Gatlin and they are all well-woven into the plot to give the story a lot of believability.
There were also some things that I didn't like about the book. The first 200 pages were very slow moving; they did build some tension into the plot but I had some trouble getting through them because I thought it got kind of boring. I also thought during this first part of the book that the foreshadowing was just overdone; I understood that Lena and Ethan had a connection very quickly and I was confused as to why this was drawn out so much. Then for the next hundred pages the action was non-stop and the story absolutely griping. Then after that there were another 200 pages of nothing much happening and boredom. Then again the last 100 pages were non-stop action and the plot was developed so quickly that it was hard to stop reading. I personally thought that the book could have been paced a bit better; then I wouldn't have had to struggle to stay interested for the majority of the book.
I also groaned a little bit when I realized that this book was yet another teen book channeling the whole "Twilight" premise of boy and girl can't be together because one of them isn't exactly human, but yet they will struggle to find a way.
Overall this book gets 3.5 stars from me. I liked the writing style, the magic, the detailed history and the mystery. I didn't like the erratic pacing and the overlying story of yet another pair of star-crossed lovers. By the end of the book, I was mostly glad that it was finished. I wasn't struck with a yearning to find out more about these characters. To be completely honest if there is another book in this series I probably won't read it...especially if it take over 600 pages to deliver a 300 page story.
Ethan Wate has been dreaming about a girl. In the dream he is always trying to hold on to her in a raging storm, but she always manages to slip away. This is the biggest event of his life right now given that he lives in the boring typical southern small town of Gatlin. Then one day a new girl shows up at school, Lena Duchannes. As a new girl she gets a lot of flack from the other kids, on top of that she is the niece of the town recluse who lives in the supposedly haunted estate of Ravenwood, which doesn't help her popularity with the kids any. When Ethan first sees her he realizes that she is the girl he's been seeing in his dreams. Ethan finds out that Lena is more different than he could ever have imagined. Lena is part of something big and, as her sixteenth birthday approaches, Lena will face the biggest challenge of her life. Lena will find out if the dark or light in her soul will prevail and the results will change who Lena is forever.
There were some things I liked about this book. The whole book has a very mysterious and urgent aura that hangs on every word. This book is as much a mystery as anything else. The characters are very well done. You are really pulling for Ethan and Lena throughout the book. The supporting characters are also very well developed; for example Amma and Ravenwood both have intricate and interesting pasts. You can tell a lot of work went into making this book as historically accurate as possible. There are a ton of interesting facts about Gatlin and they are all well-woven into the plot to give the story a lot of believability.
There were also some things that I didn't like about the book. The first 200 pages were very slow moving; they did build some tension into the plot but I had some trouble getting through them because I thought it got kind of boring. I also thought during this first part of the book that the foreshadowing was just overdone; I understood that Lena and Ethan had a connection very quickly and I was confused as to why this was drawn out so much. Then for the next hundred pages the action was non-stop and the story absolutely griping. Then after that there were another 200 pages of nothing much happening and boredom. Then again the last 100 pages were non-stop action and the plot was developed so quickly that it was hard to stop reading. I personally thought that the book could have been paced a bit better; then I wouldn't have had to struggle to stay interested for the majority of the book.
I also groaned a little bit when I realized that this book was yet another teen book channeling the whole "Twilight" premise of boy and girl can't be together because one of them isn't exactly human, but yet they will struggle to find a way.
Overall this book gets 3.5 stars from me. I liked the writing style, the magic, the detailed history and the mystery. I didn't like the erratic pacing and the overlying story of yet another pair of star-crossed lovers. By the end of the book, I was mostly glad that it was finished. I wasn't struck with a yearning to find out more about these characters. To be completely honest if there is another book in this series I probably won't read it...especially if it take over 600 pages to deliver a 300 page story.
Tom E. (ProstheticLips) reviewed Beautiful Creatures (Beautiful Creatures, Bk 1) on + 25 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 3
A supernatural romance about two teens, in the vein of Twilight, but also a commentary on small town, Southern life in Gatlin, SC. There are spell casters and other supernatural goings-on, and the story flows well. The surprises are minimal, but there are some minor ones that end up advancing the story well.
If you saw the movie adaptation, you'll be a little more surprised. As usual, the movie picks-and-chooses the scenes it wants to show, and changes some plot points around. But if you enjoyed the movie, don't let that stop you from reading the book; as usual, the book was more engaging than the movie.
If you saw the movie adaptation, you'll be a little more surprised. As usual, the movie picks-and-chooses the scenes it wants to show, and changes some plot points around. But if you enjoyed the movie, don't let that stop you from reading the book; as usual, the book was more engaging than the movie.
Jennifer W. (GeniusJen) reviewed Beautiful Creatures (Beautiful Creatures, Bk 1) on + 5322 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 3
Reviewed by Karin Librarian for TeensReadToo.com
Ethan Wate lives at the epicenter of nowhere in Gatlin, South Carolina. Only two kinds of people live in Gatlin, "the stupid and the stuck," and Ethan doesn't consider himself in either of those categories.
He isn't sure what he wants to do with the rest of his life, but he knows he wants out of town. It doesn't matter to him what college he goes to as long as it is 1,000 miles away from Gatlin. As summer comes to an end, Ethan prepares himself for another typical school year.
Only one thing out of the ordinary has been happening over the last several months - a recurring dream that leaves Ethan gasping for breath, soaking wet from sweat, and questioning his sanity. Always the same, a girl calling his name for help. The girl slipping through his fingers and tumbling down to the ground. A great sense of loss and the lingering scent of lemons and rosemary.
When Lena Duchannes moves into Gatlin's oldest and most infamous plantation, she causes quite a stir in town. She causes a stir in Ethan, as well. When he sees her and realizes she is the girl from his dreams, he is drawn to her both out of need and curiosity.
Mystery surrounds Lena as she attempts to make a place for herself in the community while also maintaining her individuality. Ethan's eyes are opened to a complicated world of danger and magic as he attempts to figure out his role in Lena's complicated world.
BEAUTIFUL CREATURES is a masterfully written tale that weaves together a story of love, the importance of family loyalty, and the difficulties of choosing between good and evil. Garcia and Stohl create a world where readers can lose themselves and be content.
Readers will beg for a sequel when they reach the last page.
Ethan Wate lives at the epicenter of nowhere in Gatlin, South Carolina. Only two kinds of people live in Gatlin, "the stupid and the stuck," and Ethan doesn't consider himself in either of those categories.
He isn't sure what he wants to do with the rest of his life, but he knows he wants out of town. It doesn't matter to him what college he goes to as long as it is 1,000 miles away from Gatlin. As summer comes to an end, Ethan prepares himself for another typical school year.
Only one thing out of the ordinary has been happening over the last several months - a recurring dream that leaves Ethan gasping for breath, soaking wet from sweat, and questioning his sanity. Always the same, a girl calling his name for help. The girl slipping through his fingers and tumbling down to the ground. A great sense of loss and the lingering scent of lemons and rosemary.
When Lena Duchannes moves into Gatlin's oldest and most infamous plantation, she causes quite a stir in town. She causes a stir in Ethan, as well. When he sees her and realizes she is the girl from his dreams, he is drawn to her both out of need and curiosity.
Mystery surrounds Lena as she attempts to make a place for herself in the community while also maintaining her individuality. Ethan's eyes are opened to a complicated world of danger and magic as he attempts to figure out his role in Lena's complicated world.
BEAUTIFUL CREATURES is a masterfully written tale that weaves together a story of love, the importance of family loyalty, and the difficulties of choosing between good and evil. Garcia and Stohl create a world where readers can lose themselves and be content.
Readers will beg for a sequel when they reach the last page.
Kim C. (snapshot) reviewed Beautiful Creatures (Beautiful Creatures, Bk 1) on + 36 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl deliver a beautifully written, captivating series that debuts with Beautiful Creatures. I have both read these books and have listened to them on audio. If you have a chance, listen to them! The narrator does a fantastic job! But, be careful... every single ending leaves you begging for the next book!
Pam A. (vistamom) - , reviewed Beautiful Creatures (Beautiful Creatures, Bk 1) on + 9 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
Ethan Wate cannot wait to get out of his small hometown, Gatlin, South Carolina, where things have remained the same since the War Between the States. But as he starts his junior year in high school things begin to change. He is grieving the death of his mother in a car accident. A new girl has started school and she immediately catches his attention. Lena is the niece of Macon Ravenwood, the town recluse. Soon everything he thought he knew about his small town will be turned upside down and he will never be the same.
When Lena arrives Ethan begins to have strange dreams about her. When they finally meet he realizes that they can communicate in their minds without speaking. Strange events start happening and Lena finally reveals that she is a Caster, or a modern day witch hiding in plain sight. She introduces Ethan to the parallel world of the supernatural that exists right in the streets of Gatlin, alongside the normal ordinary world that he has always known. Lena is about to turn sixteen and when she does her fate as a either a Light (good) or Dark (evil) Caster will be determined. But as the day approaches events occur that will change them both forever. To get into more detail would spoil the book, just know that there are lots of surprises along the way.
This is a tender, realistic love story that is told in the first person by Ethan, an unusual twist as these types of stories are usually told from the female point of view. The writing in the book is wonderful and a treat to read. Set in the Deep South, the authors make the town come alive with detailed descriptions, traditions and social norms one would expect to see in a small southern town. The fast moving events held my interest and kept me wondering what would happen until the very end. Also included is the theme of cruelty to anyone who is different than the norm, a timely topic with the current focus on bullies. The hypocrisy found in small minded people is also explored. At 592 pages, it is quite a bit longer than similar YA novels, but it allows for full story development and I enjoyed having the story told in such detail. I never felt like the story was too long or that pages were added just to make the novel longer.
The book was named a New York Times best youth book for 2009, a well deserved award. The ending screams for a sequel, and one has been released, Beautiful Darkness, it is great too!.
When Lena arrives Ethan begins to have strange dreams about her. When they finally meet he realizes that they can communicate in their minds without speaking. Strange events start happening and Lena finally reveals that she is a Caster, or a modern day witch hiding in plain sight. She introduces Ethan to the parallel world of the supernatural that exists right in the streets of Gatlin, alongside the normal ordinary world that he has always known. Lena is about to turn sixteen and when she does her fate as a either a Light (good) or Dark (evil) Caster will be determined. But as the day approaches events occur that will change them both forever. To get into more detail would spoil the book, just know that there are lots of surprises along the way.
This is a tender, realistic love story that is told in the first person by Ethan, an unusual twist as these types of stories are usually told from the female point of view. The writing in the book is wonderful and a treat to read. Set in the Deep South, the authors make the town come alive with detailed descriptions, traditions and social norms one would expect to see in a small southern town. The fast moving events held my interest and kept me wondering what would happen until the very end. Also included is the theme of cruelty to anyone who is different than the norm, a timely topic with the current focus on bullies. The hypocrisy found in small minded people is also explored. At 592 pages, it is quite a bit longer than similar YA novels, but it allows for full story development and I enjoyed having the story told in such detail. I never felt like the story was too long or that pages were added just to make the novel longer.
The book was named a New York Times best youth book for 2009, a well deserved award. The ending screams for a sequel, and one has been released, Beautiful Darkness, it is great too!.
Ekene O. (dreamer17) reviewed Beautiful Creatures (Beautiful Creatures, Bk 1) on + 3 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
This is my favorite series for a bunch of different reasons. The top reason, though, is the fact it's a story of supernatural love told from the guy's POV. As much as I love supernatural love stories, most are the girls' POV. It's interesting reading a guy's POV when he meets the girl he likes, and see how it turns into love. And it helps that the main character, Ethan, is extremely likable. It took awhile to get to like Lena, because even though you sympathize with her, she does have the tendency to annoy you but in the end you whine up cheering for the both of them
Helpful Score: 2
A fantastic read. I highly recommend this for people who enjoy paranormal fiction. This contemporary story set in the Deep South is gothic and supernatural, but not predictable. There's something about setting a story in South Carolina that makes a story like this even more thrilling and gothic. Maybe it's the old plantation mansions with their tragic and troubled history, but the setting is definitely a character in the story which grabbed me by the lapels and didn't let go until the end. I finished this book, which is about 600 pages, in two days. The story is well plotted and paced. I couldn't wait to find out what was going to happen in the next chapter.
While this book is aimed at a YA audience, an adult will enjoy this. This is much darker than Harry Potter and infinitely better than Twilight. The story is told from the first person point of view of the hero, Ethan Wate, a high school sophomore. He's a bright, likable young man whose mother, a professor, was killed in an accident not too long before the story begins. He starts having strange haunting dreams and soon a mysterious young woman moves into town. No, it's not his dead mother. I won't give away the ending. Read the book. I will be keeping my copy for this is a keeper in my ever expanding book collection.
While this book is aimed at a YA audience, an adult will enjoy this. This is much darker than Harry Potter and infinitely better than Twilight. The story is told from the first person point of view of the hero, Ethan Wate, a high school sophomore. He's a bright, likable young man whose mother, a professor, was killed in an accident not too long before the story begins. He starts having strange haunting dreams and soon a mysterious young woman moves into town. No, it's not his dead mother. I won't give away the ending. Read the book. I will be keeping my copy for this is a keeper in my ever expanding book collection.
Helpful Score: 2
Perhaps the reason that these two had to team up to write a book is because on their own, they're even worse. This story, in my opinion, was a collaboration of crap. It started out dry and boring and pretty much stays there for quite some time. The authors seem to be putting quantity (pages) ahead of quality (plot) because this story just couldn't hook me and I had to give up after 70 some pages. I'm a bit bummed I wasted good money on this, but hopefully there's a reader out there who can appreciate this.
Shannon M. (confuzzledbooks) reviewed Beautiful Creatures (Beautiful Creatures, Bk 1) on + 487 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
ur narrator Ethan has lived in Georgia all his life for the most part his life was pretty typical until his Mom died. As he and his family regroup after their loss a new girl pops into town, Lena. The attraction is immediate and uniquely mystical. Lena is from a long line of Casters. She has secret that may turn her dark/evil. Ethan and Lena fight to find a way defeat the darkness in her.
I have a soft spots for witchy fantasies. Jumping into this book was like lounging into a warm bath. I loved the characters, the magic, and romance. I am not one that likes gooey romances. This wasnt one of those thank goodness. Ethan and Lena carry their own as well a carry each other.
As for anything that i did not like, I would have to say the flashbacks were not my favorite. I think there is a lot that was still unanswered but maybe that is why there is 3 more books.
I really enjoyed reading this start to the Caster series and I look forward to reading more. I was happy with the length of the book. I did not feel it ended too soon or drag on too long.
I have a soft spots for witchy fantasies. Jumping into this book was like lounging into a warm bath. I loved the characters, the magic, and romance. I am not one that likes gooey romances. This wasnt one of those thank goodness. Ethan and Lena carry their own as well a carry each other.
As for anything that i did not like, I would have to say the flashbacks were not my favorite. I think there is a lot that was still unanswered but maybe that is why there is 3 more books.
I really enjoyed reading this start to the Caster series and I look forward to reading more. I was happy with the length of the book. I did not feel it ended too soon or drag on too long.
Helpful Score: 1
Loved it! Easy read and interesting story. I definitely recommend for teens and older.
Rebekah K. (Beks) -
Helpful Score: 1
Great, Great book!! I will be recommending this book to all of my friends. These two authors are very well written and have written and amazing book!
David O. (dbo) -
Helpful Score: 1
A good story, maybe a little too complicated, but not predictable. And I appreciated the low-key sense of humor.
Lauren K. (hoshikuzu03) -
Helpful Score: 1
Very "Twilight" style book about two lovers who cannot be trapped in a world of magic. What will Lena choose? Will she have a choice to be light or dark? Will Ethan have to choose between Lena and the life he knows and the people he loves?
I personally cannot get into these "instant teenage love" stories anymore. Perhaps if I was 14-16 this book would be up my alley. It lacks character development and plot. It also has an impossible, telepathic, love story with no substance. Its a teen romance novel. Which is not what I expected from the complicated description of the book. The writing is choppy and rushed. You can tell it was written by two people as its often inconsistent. This would make a much better movie than a book so I suggest just watching the movie.
I personally cannot get into these "instant teenage love" stories anymore. Perhaps if I was 14-16 this book would be up my alley. It lacks character development and plot. It also has an impossible, telepathic, love story with no substance. Its a teen romance novel. Which is not what I expected from the complicated description of the book. The writing is choppy and rushed. You can tell it was written by two people as its often inconsistent. This would make a much better movie than a book so I suggest just watching the movie.
Helpful Score: 1
I really enjoyed the movie, and while this was a well written book with a good story and a great setting, I found it irritatingly PG. I guess that's how I know I'm officially too old for this sort of book. I couldn't really feel any of the emotions they were trying to portray. It felt like I was watching a play. Ethan likes the new girl. Why? She's kind of a b.... The new girl says she cares about Ethan, but I'm not convinced. And the two are always described as "kissing"...sometimes for hours...like seriously, I'm going to need a little more detail than that. But what I really have to say about this book is, "It's not you, it's me."
Laura P. (hemmputnam) reviewed Beautiful Creatures (Beautiful Creatures, Bk 1) on + 1158 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
I picked this up because it is the hot read in 7th grade right now at my child's school. As a 39 year old, it was not "the best book EVER" that the teen bloggers had described, but I did like how each Caster had a different power and how it was narrated by the male protagonist. The best friend relationship is great. At times it was a little slow moving and I wanted the bits of the mystery to be revealed a little more quickly. I wasn't quite sure how a book could be YA with a comparison to True Blood on the back cover, but it must be referring to the southern setting as opposed to the sex, because the most that happens here is serious kissing. I liked the atmosphere, the paranormal characters, the changing house, a heroine who writes with pen and ink, and the role of the library and librarian. I wouldn't push it into someone's hands, but I also wouldn't forbid it. There is a seemingly good demon, though we don't get a whole lot of detail about that aspect of his being.
Friends of mine have placed this book on their "keeper" shelf. For me, it was a great enough read, that I finally read it a second time. Much more than I first had thought it was going to be, when I first started reading it that first time. Good book.
Helpful Score: 1
WOW! This book blew me away! I devoured it in a few sittings, and cannot wait for the next installment! Its hard to give a good review without giving away any plot spoilers.
When your average small-town teenage boy meets the new girl in town, everything changes. He discovers she is different. There is a curse. Ethan will stop at nothing to save her, and in the end he finds his own salvation. An impossible love bond is formed, sacrifices are made. This story had great southern charm, and very fun paranormal aspect to it. It could also be classified as mystery, becasue they spend a lot of time finding clues, (and seeing visions), to figure out how to stop the curse. There are many many deep layers in this story, and they all fit together perfectly. Its a dark book, one you know in the end someone will die, yet, you cant seem to put it down or think about anything else until you start reading it again. I loved it, and its staying on my keeper shelf! I certainly hope they will make this into a movie someday!
When your average small-town teenage boy meets the new girl in town, everything changes. He discovers she is different. There is a curse. Ethan will stop at nothing to save her, and in the end he finds his own salvation. An impossible love bond is formed, sacrifices are made. This story had great southern charm, and very fun paranormal aspect to it. It could also be classified as mystery, becasue they spend a lot of time finding clues, (and seeing visions), to figure out how to stop the curse. There are many many deep layers in this story, and they all fit together perfectly. Its a dark book, one you know in the end someone will die, yet, you cant seem to put it down or think about anything else until you start reading it again. I loved it, and its staying on my keeper shelf! I certainly hope they will make this into a movie someday!
Ashley B. (daredevilgirl013) reviewed Beautiful Creatures (Beautiful Creatures, Bk 1) on + 746 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
This was a rather interesting love story. Granted this book has its twists and turns just like any other book, and yes I did like this book, but I wished it would have moved just a little bit faster. Too many questions kept getting unanswered and dropped, and I would have liked some more answers. Still a good read and I can't wait for the next book in the series.
Charlotte K. (diamondsae82) -
Helpful Score: 1
What can I say about this book? While the idea of the story was good, I found it very hard to read. I was really excited to start this series and now I find myself pretty disappointed. I felt like there were far too many fillers in this story which made it boring. It was like a constant roller coaster...just when you think it is starting to get good, back to the boring stuff.
Ethan is a small town southern boy who can't wait to leave and see the world. Lena is a Caster who is sent to live in the same small town and they, of course, fall in love. I liked the whole witches and powers storyline, but it had potential to be so much more. I enjoyed most of the other characters, although they could have been developed more as well. I found myself having a hard time seeing the characters and the story in my mind. It felt like reading a school book instead of reading a story. I did really enjoy the Civil War history in the story and the supernatural aspects.
Overall, the book was ok. I do plan to read the rest of the series just to see if it gets better. I struggled to read it and find it difficult to write a review. I'm not sure that I would recommend it to others.
Ethan is a small town southern boy who can't wait to leave and see the world. Lena is a Caster who is sent to live in the same small town and they, of course, fall in love. I liked the whole witches and powers storyline, but it had potential to be so much more. I enjoyed most of the other characters, although they could have been developed more as well. I found myself having a hard time seeing the characters and the story in my mind. It felt like reading a school book instead of reading a story. I did really enjoy the Civil War history in the story and the supernatural aspects.
Overall, the book was ok. I do plan to read the rest of the series just to see if it gets better. I struggled to read it and find it difficult to write a review. I'm not sure that I would recommend it to others.
Debbie P. (YodaMom) reviewed Beautiful Creatures (Beautiful Creatures, Bk 1) on + 28 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
Intense, non-stop intrigue and unique world building. It was not written down, which I appreciate.This YA really was very detailed, there is a lot of work here and it shows. The historical background is so vivid, as are the characters. It was difficult to keep up with all the twists and turns. Honestly, there was so much going on it was almost too much at times. it is a dark tale of a family of magical people and the curse that haunts them and a 15 yr old girl. She wants to fit in with her peers but no matter what she is always turned from. Her life is about to change on her 16th birthday, she may lose all she loves. She meets a boy and he balances her somehow, his life changing along with hers. He has demons of his own, his mother is dead , his father acts like he is. All the people of this small southern town seems to be tied to the history of this curse, one way or the other. They have an old hate filling their hearts that carries this story to even a darker place.
I don't know if I want to read the next book. As much as I enjoyed this book I feel kind of battered and bruised after reading it. Maybe after some time ?
I don't know if I want to read the next book. As much as I enjoyed this book I feel kind of battered and bruised after reading it. Maybe after some time ?
Cristina H. (gamermom77) reviewed Beautiful Creatures (Beautiful Creatures, Bk 1) on + 14 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
This poor book has been sitting on my TBR shelves, gathering dust for about three years. I bought it because of the dust jacket without knowing anything about it except the blurb on the back about cursed love.
Positives: This was a decent read. The whole magic system, while not ground-breakingly original, was pretty clever. I really enjoyed the characterization of the supporting cast... the entire Caster family (and Ridley, who I quite enjoyed disliking), the Sisters were fun to read about and I really dug Amma and Macon Ravencroft (and Boo Radley). One of my favorite scenes in the book was during the "disciplinary hearing" after Macon showed up. The story, overall, flowed pretty smoothly. Even being nearly 600 pages in length, when I was reading, the story went really quickly and I was interested enough to keep reading to see what happened next. When I was reading, I could feel the anticipation and was counting down the days with Lena and Ethan. I also liked reading this cursed love story from the male POV. Nice change of pace from the majority of young adult books I've read. It didn't end with a cliffhanger, which a big plus. It just ended with a little tease that implied there will be a sequel.
Negatives: Every time I put the book down, I didn't feel the need to pick it back up. Seriously, 551 pages in... a major character may or may not have been dead... I put it down, and later had to practically force myself to pick it back up because there was no way I wasn't going to finish the last 12 pages at that point. There were quite a few things that I figured out WAY earlier than our main characters. The authors were dropping what I felt were incredibly obvious clues everywhere. I had to fight the urge to skim every time they started writing in length about the Civil War. I was born and raised in the South, it reminded me of History class in high school and I read those parts with about as much enthusiasm as the back of a shampoo bottle. And bless her heart, Lena really did have that whole special snowflake' thing going on all the way through the story. I also didn't really feel any chemistry between Lena and Ethan, other than being apparently fated to be together.
In my head, it was interesting enough when I was reading it but I just don't care about it. When I wasn't reading it, I wasn't even remotely interested in it.
Positives: This was a decent read. The whole magic system, while not ground-breakingly original, was pretty clever. I really enjoyed the characterization of the supporting cast... the entire Caster family (and Ridley, who I quite enjoyed disliking), the Sisters were fun to read about and I really dug Amma and Macon Ravencroft (and Boo Radley). One of my favorite scenes in the book was during the "disciplinary hearing" after Macon showed up. The story, overall, flowed pretty smoothly. Even being nearly 600 pages in length, when I was reading, the story went really quickly and I was interested enough to keep reading to see what happened next. When I was reading, I could feel the anticipation and was counting down the days with Lena and Ethan. I also liked reading this cursed love story from the male POV. Nice change of pace from the majority of young adult books I've read. It didn't end with a cliffhanger, which a big plus. It just ended with a little tease that implied there will be a sequel.
Negatives: Every time I put the book down, I didn't feel the need to pick it back up. Seriously, 551 pages in... a major character may or may not have been dead... I put it down, and later had to practically force myself to pick it back up because there was no way I wasn't going to finish the last 12 pages at that point. There were quite a few things that I figured out WAY earlier than our main characters. The authors were dropping what I felt were incredibly obvious clues everywhere. I had to fight the urge to skim every time they started writing in length about the Civil War. I was born and raised in the South, it reminded me of History class in high school and I read those parts with about as much enthusiasm as the back of a shampoo bottle. And bless her heart, Lena really did have that whole special snowflake' thing going on all the way through the story. I also didn't really feel any chemistry between Lena and Ethan, other than being apparently fated to be together.
In my head, it was interesting enough when I was reading it but I just don't care about it. When I wasn't reading it, I wasn't even remotely interested in it.
Barbara S. (barbsis) -
Helpful Score: 1
The first half of the book is a typical high school experience where one person is ostracized by the "in crowd" and only one person is on their side. In this town this is Lena Duchannes and Ethan Wate. Ethan falls head over heels for the new girl in town, Lena, niece of the oddest man in town. Lena becomes the school outcast and Ethan sticks by her side, throwing aside his lifelong friendships and his basketball team in favor of her company. As their friendship grows, so does the danger surrounding them. As Ethan learns all Lena's secrets, he is shocked and amazed at the same time. It isn't until this halfway point, that you actually start to understand exactly what is going on and where the story is headed though the ending is surely a surprise. I totally loved the mystery of the first Ethan and Genevieve, ancestors who were also kept apart by well-meaning relatives.
I don't usually like this type of story but there is just something that kept me glued to the pages. I don't know if it was simply waiting to find out exactly what Lena (and her family) is or whether it was hoping Ethan would finally break through her resistance. I can't wait to get back to this story and see what Lena and Ethan do next...Beautiful Darkness.
I found this much more interesting and entertaining than the House of Night series, the Morganville Vampires series and even the Vampire Academy novels.
I don't usually like this type of story but there is just something that kept me glued to the pages. I don't know if it was simply waiting to find out exactly what Lena (and her family) is or whether it was hoping Ethan would finally break through her resistance. I can't wait to get back to this story and see what Lena and Ethan do next...Beautiful Darkness.
I found this much more interesting and entertaining than the House of Night series, the Morganville Vampires series and even the Vampire Academy novels.
Alaina H. (laina42107) reviewed Beautiful Creatures (Beautiful Creatures, Bk 1) on + 115 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
I thoroughly enjoyed this book! I've only read two Y&A books series before this about witches. One I loved (secret circle) and one I didn't (wicked). The first book in this series did not disappoint. It was a page turner from the beginning. Loved the story and the characters. I liked how the story was told from Ethan's pov, instead of Lena's. that was different in a refreshing way. Not sure how I felt about the ending though. I guess I'm conflicted. Starting the second book soon. I can't imagine where the story will go from here. Guess that's why I feel conflicted about the end.
Helpful Score: 1
Beautiful Creatures in a spectacularly told story of young love between main characters Ethan Wate, the narrator, and Lena Duchannes, a spell caster. It is, essentially, a love story - but, it is also so much more than that. There's a ghost/vampire storyline, history, magic (light and dark), and romance (of course).
Both has secrets of their own...
Ethan lives with his shut-in father, longtime housekeeper, and both father and son are still grieving over the recent death of their wife and mother. Amma is...out there. She believes in warding off spirits and evil with herbs and charms, but she loves Ethan like her own son.
Lena is the new kid in Gatlin County and it definitely shows. She always wears a necklace that she is always adding items to it, like paperclips and string. She writes numbers on her hand, that Ethan is immediately curious about - she has strange powers and she soon earns the immediate dislike of almost everyone in town. Mainly, and she is the niece of the town crotchety old man, a loner, who lives in a spooky house on the outskirts of town.
Ethan and Lena finds each other in their dreams, before they even meet, and they're calling out to one another. We assume she's calling out for him, but maybe not...don't want to give away the end of the book.
The mysterious song "Sixteen Moons" appears on Ethan's I-pod the very next morning after his dream. Ethan, nor his best friend, Link, never heard of it either.
I highly recommand this book and there is going to be a Book 2 titled "Beautiful Darkness" due out for release Oct. 26 2010.
Both has secrets of their own...
Ethan lives with his shut-in father, longtime housekeeper, and both father and son are still grieving over the recent death of their wife and mother. Amma is...out there. She believes in warding off spirits and evil with herbs and charms, but she loves Ethan like her own son.
Lena is the new kid in Gatlin County and it definitely shows. She always wears a necklace that she is always adding items to it, like paperclips and string. She writes numbers on her hand, that Ethan is immediately curious about - she has strange powers and she soon earns the immediate dislike of almost everyone in town. Mainly, and she is the niece of the town crotchety old man, a loner, who lives in a spooky house on the outskirts of town.
Ethan and Lena finds each other in their dreams, before they even meet, and they're calling out to one another. We assume she's calling out for him, but maybe not...don't want to give away the end of the book.
The mysterious song "Sixteen Moons" appears on Ethan's I-pod the very next morning after his dream. Ethan, nor his best friend, Link, never heard of it either.
I highly recommand this book and there is going to be a Book 2 titled "Beautiful Darkness" due out for release Oct. 26 2010.
I can't believe how different this book is from the movie.. I wasn't too happy with the movie and I almost didn't read the book because of it. I am glad I finally broke down and read it. It is a long book and some parts are slow and drawn out but it is a good read. I do agree with some review that state the author didn't really bring a "guys point of view" out right.. it doesn't seem like a guy should be telling it most of the time... but the book is good.. yes I still have questions but I hope the next books will explain better. I am in shock on how completely different it is from the movie.. the movie has very little taken from the book in my opinion.
Dina R. (dimari) reviewed Beautiful Creatures (Beautiful Creatures, Bk 1) on + 105 more book reviews
I really enjoyed this book. Way more details in the book from the movie! I wanted to know what was going to happen with our cast of characters and how they will wiggle their way into reality?
Stacie P. (froot) -
I like this story. I wanted to love it but couldn't appreciate it until I completed it's sequel. The story told from the mortal boy Ethan Wate's perspective was if only intriguing just enough to keep me reading. The writing style is obvious between the two authors. After a while, I didn't care and became vested in the two main characters lives. The love story that unfolds between these two teenagers is warming. Unfortunately there is NO CLOSURE in this book. Reader beware: to love this story you must read the second novel "Beautiful Darkness". Otherwise I am afraid you will be left annoyed and confused like I was. The first few chapters of the second book needed to be in the first.
Ethan Wate soon learns that not everything in his life is as it appears in the literal sense. Lena the new girl in the small town of Gaitin helps him in discovering the hidden world in plain sight around him.
Ethan Wate soon learns that not everything in his life is as it appears in the literal sense. Lena the new girl in the small town of Gaitin helps him in discovering the hidden world in plain sight around him.
Leslie W. (kyyadifan) -
First let me say I read this book because it was made into a movie and I wanted to read the book before seeing the movie (which I haven't see yet). This book started with a bang but fizzled rather fast. The premise to the storyline, the lonely, misunderstood teenager who meets the popular, cute teenager and hook up but face problem after problem because of one teenagers special circumstances has been done, and done, and done. By the middle of the book, I was still intrigued enough that I wanted to finish but I was bored enough that I wanted it to hurry and end so I could move onto something else. The storyline was as predicable as one can be, the characters were as predictable as they could be, and the ending was as predictable as it could be. Even though I can't say that many good things about the book, I still find myself thinking I liked it - at least a little. Maybe because it didn't take a lot of brain cells to read the book, maybe because in the end I kinda like these young adult supernatural stories...I don't know. It took me a while to finish the book, and I'm glad I did, and I will finish the series, but it is definitely a teeny bopper, easy read.
I saw the movie years ago and when I learned it was based on a book, I immediately ordered the series... And then it sat on my shelf for years. [I really need to stop buying books and read the ones I own.
Anyway, I pulled this out for Halloween Bingo as my "Southern Gothic" square. And man you don't get any more southern than the town of Gatlin. They are hardcore confederates who hate anything that deals with superstition (even though they all frequent the local card reader) they hate outsiders, or anyone who isn't exactly like them.
Poor Lena never stood a chance when she came to live with her uncle Macon, the patriarch of the Ravenwood family and a recluse. If not for the Ravenwood family, the town wouldn't even exist, but that doesn't stop the townsfolk for hating them for being different. And they are different. They are a family of casters who were cursed when one of their ancestors made a bargain with a book of magic. In other caster families each child can chose the light or the dark when they come of age. But because of the curse, the children of this family have no choice, the book chooses. Lena is close to coming of age, she's a powerful caster, and there is a worry that she will go dark.
This was an interesting story as told from the point of view of Ethan, who falls in love with Lena and gets caught up in her complicated world. He is a son of Gatlin, but he's not really like them. And he goes against the grain to be with Lena.
The story was well written and kept my attention. I'm interested in seeing where the rest of the series goes.
Anyway, I pulled this out for Halloween Bingo as my "Southern Gothic" square. And man you don't get any more southern than the town of Gatlin. They are hardcore confederates who hate anything that deals with superstition (even though they all frequent the local card reader) they hate outsiders, or anyone who isn't exactly like them.
Poor Lena never stood a chance when she came to live with her uncle Macon, the patriarch of the Ravenwood family and a recluse. If not for the Ravenwood family, the town wouldn't even exist, but that doesn't stop the townsfolk for hating them for being different. And they are different. They are a family of casters who were cursed when one of their ancestors made a bargain with a book of magic. In other caster families each child can chose the light or the dark when they come of age. But because of the curse, the children of this family have no choice, the book chooses. Lena is close to coming of age, she's a powerful caster, and there is a worry that she will go dark.
This was an interesting story as told from the point of view of Ethan, who falls in love with Lena and gets caught up in her complicated world. He is a son of Gatlin, but he's not really like them. And he goes against the grain to be with Lena.
The story was well written and kept my attention. I'm interested in seeing where the rest of the series goes.
Erin S. (nantuckerin) reviewed Beautiful Creatures (Beautiful Creatures, Bk 1) on + 158 more book reviews
The biggest thrill of Beautiful Creatures was discovering that the fantastic new book I'd just read was actually the debut of a fantastic new series! Bonus!
That said, Beautiful Creatures is probably one of the most exciting series premieres I've read in a long time. It takes some time to figure out exactly what is going on in Gatlin, and how main character Ethan Wate is involved, but once the story gets moving, I found the book to be impossible to put down. And honestly, in a genre where a book's cover and title often leave little to the imagination, it was a joy to have to read and unravel the mystery to figure out exactly what the book was about.
In Beautiful Creatures, we meet Ethan and his close circle of friends and family. He's lived in the sleepy Southern town of Gatlin his whole life, and his family tree is deeply rooted in the community (like almost everyone else that lives there.) So, it's more than novel when a new girl shows up at school. It's even more novel that she lives in Ravenwood Manor with her reclusive uncle and drives a hearse to school. The fact that she's beautiful, and somehow different, is just icing on the cake.
Ethan is struggling with changes to his family after the recent death of his mother, and his father's increasingly strange and antisocial behaviors. He still has Amma, his long-time nanny/housekeeper to care for him, but misses the way his life used to be. He deals with Amma's strange charms and superstitions because they're part of her eccentric charm, but doesn't believe in them himself. However, as strange dreams begin to plague him, and otherworldly occurances he can't explain seem to draw him closer and closer to the new girl, Ethan is forced to take stock of his life and open his eyes to possibilities he never before imagined.
Authors Garcia and Stohl have a great budding series on their hands, and I can't wait to see what develops as we learn more about the history of Gatlin and the people who live there. I've recommended this series to many people, and will continue to do so, because it's too good not to share. I can't wait to see what develops in Beautiful Darkness, the next book in the series.
That said, Beautiful Creatures is probably one of the most exciting series premieres I've read in a long time. It takes some time to figure out exactly what is going on in Gatlin, and how main character Ethan Wate is involved, but once the story gets moving, I found the book to be impossible to put down. And honestly, in a genre where a book's cover and title often leave little to the imagination, it was a joy to have to read and unravel the mystery to figure out exactly what the book was about.
In Beautiful Creatures, we meet Ethan and his close circle of friends and family. He's lived in the sleepy Southern town of Gatlin his whole life, and his family tree is deeply rooted in the community (like almost everyone else that lives there.) So, it's more than novel when a new girl shows up at school. It's even more novel that she lives in Ravenwood Manor with her reclusive uncle and drives a hearse to school. The fact that she's beautiful, and somehow different, is just icing on the cake.
Ethan is struggling with changes to his family after the recent death of his mother, and his father's increasingly strange and antisocial behaviors. He still has Amma, his long-time nanny/housekeeper to care for him, but misses the way his life used to be. He deals with Amma's strange charms and superstitions because they're part of her eccentric charm, but doesn't believe in them himself. However, as strange dreams begin to plague him, and otherworldly occurances he can't explain seem to draw him closer and closer to the new girl, Ethan is forced to take stock of his life and open his eyes to possibilities he never before imagined.
Authors Garcia and Stohl have a great budding series on their hands, and I can't wait to see what develops as we learn more about the history of Gatlin and the people who live there. I've recommended this series to many people, and will continue to do so, because it's too good not to share. I can't wait to see what develops in Beautiful Darkness, the next book in the series.
Kim C. (snapshot) reviewed Beautiful Creatures (Beautiful Creatures, Bk 1) on + 36 more book reviews
I was hesitant to start this book, but I am thankful I did. It's an intriguing story, I enjoyed it and will be anxious to read the sequel, Beautiful Darkness, when it comes out this fall. I listened to it on audio, and the performer did a fantastic job with the accents and multiple voices. I think that is also why I was drawn in, or maybe the book cast its own spell on me... ;)
Sabrina D. (mystiqued98) reviewed Beautiful Creatures (Beautiful Creatures, Bk 1) on + 3 more book reviews
me and my daughter(11yr.) liked the story. it kept you wanting to turn the pages and you could actually see the book come alive.it was about a moody goth girl who is not what she seems.. meets a ordinary human guy and falls in love.
Gladys G. (mamag) -
I FELL HEAD OVER HEALS IN LOVE WITH THE MAIN CHARACTERS, ETHAN AND LENA, IN THIS BOOK!!!! AND even the supporting character's Amma and Macon Ravenwood. It was like they were acting out a play right in front of me. The words just spoke to me.
"The story is about Ethan Wate, a popular basketball player who has lived in Gatlin, South Carolina his entire life, and Lena Duchannes, the mysterious new girl in school."
That is all you need to know... It's compared to Twilight but honestly you can not compare it to Twilight! Yes, it's a young adult book, it's in the same paranormal category, but it STANDS ALONE!
PURE MAGIC IN THE MOST HONEST WAY!
A great book for young adults! PG all the way!
I read this book in less then two days and am so sad that I will have to wait til October for the next book, Beautiful Darkness...
"The story is about Ethan Wate, a popular basketball player who has lived in Gatlin, South Carolina his entire life, and Lena Duchannes, the mysterious new girl in school."
That is all you need to know... It's compared to Twilight but honestly you can not compare it to Twilight! Yes, it's a young adult book, it's in the same paranormal category, but it STANDS ALONE!
PURE MAGIC IN THE MOST HONEST WAY!
A great book for young adults! PG all the way!
I read this book in less then two days and am so sad that I will have to wait til October for the next book, Beautiful Darkness...
Lenna W. (bratz54) -
If you seen the movie, then you're in for a big surprise, I loved the movie BUT the books as tons more, movie only captured only some points. Like Ethan and Lena can communicate telepathically, or a wolf dog that has seen all and knows all for Me can or being a protector that will change Lena all over town to watch out for her, plus so... so much more then glyph realized.
Heather D. (daylily77) reviewed Beautiful Creatures (Beautiful Creatures, Bk 1) on + 236 more book reviews
A fantastic book. I needed to break away from the werewolf/vampire genre for a bit and this totally satisfied that break. I can't wait for the next book. Very tame compared to a lot of the YA novels out there.
Love this series!!!
Summary: There were no surprises in Gatlin County.
We were pretty much the epicenter of the middle of nowhere.
At least, that's what I thought.
Turns out, I couldn't have been more wrong.
There was a curse.
There was a girl.
And in the end, there was a grave.
Lena Duchannes is unlike anyone the small Southern town of Gatlin has ever seen, and she's struggling to conceal her power and a curse that has haunted her family for generations. But even within the overgrown gardens, murky swamps and crumbling graveyards of the forgotten South, a secret cannot stay hidden forever.
Ethan Wate, who has been counting the months until he can escape from Gatlin, is haunted by dreams of a beautiful girl he has never met. When Lena moves into the town's oldest and most infamous plantation, Ethan is inexplicably drawn to her and determined to uncover the connection between them.
In a town with no surprises, one secret could change everything.
There were quite a few things that were different about this book, that were enjoyable. The POV in this book is from the main character Ethan, so it was different reading a YA novel from a male teen's POV. I liked it, it might not be completely believable, because Ethan is a 16 yr old male, but it was still different in an excellent way.
The length of this novel was also very nice, there was some over desciption sometimes, but most of the time the descriptions in the story were rich and vibrant, almost like textiles that you can reach out and run your fingers over each one. The gothic undertones of Lena's family were also very vibrant and excited to learn and read about, it was almost as if there needs to be a dictionary just to list each of her family members and explain more about them.
The fact that there are no vampires or werewolves in this story was refreshing, the retreat into witch lore is always intriguing, seeing as its always different and its a classic in literary terms; there is always more to learn about in regards to beliefs and how others perceive witch's. Might not be a great thing to be a witch in a severely southern "bible-belt" town. Definitely not.
This book was interesting, engaging, and after a slow start picks up tremendously, it drags the reader into a world of magic and love that is a bit Romeo and Juliet-esque. The frequent mention of different authors and their works was also refreshing and interesting because I myself have never read some of the authors mentioned and will now look into them. If I myself am intrigued by some of these classics maybe some teens that wouldn't give them the time of day before will look into them with a fresher perspective than mandatory reading. I would definitely recommend this book to others and will keep it on my shelf for future reads, after I mail it to my teen sister to borrow.
Received from: Purchased
For more information or for purchasing visit Kami Garcia or Margaret Stohl's webpage.
We were pretty much the epicenter of the middle of nowhere.
At least, that's what I thought.
Turns out, I couldn't have been more wrong.
There was a curse.
There was a girl.
And in the end, there was a grave.
Lena Duchannes is unlike anyone the small Southern town of Gatlin has ever seen, and she's struggling to conceal her power and a curse that has haunted her family for generations. But even within the overgrown gardens, murky swamps and crumbling graveyards of the forgotten South, a secret cannot stay hidden forever.
Ethan Wate, who has been counting the months until he can escape from Gatlin, is haunted by dreams of a beautiful girl he has never met. When Lena moves into the town's oldest and most infamous plantation, Ethan is inexplicably drawn to her and determined to uncover the connection between them.
In a town with no surprises, one secret could change everything.
There were quite a few things that were different about this book, that were enjoyable. The POV in this book is from the main character Ethan, so it was different reading a YA novel from a male teen's POV. I liked it, it might not be completely believable, because Ethan is a 16 yr old male, but it was still different in an excellent way.
The length of this novel was also very nice, there was some over desciption sometimes, but most of the time the descriptions in the story were rich and vibrant, almost like textiles that you can reach out and run your fingers over each one. The gothic undertones of Lena's family were also very vibrant and excited to learn and read about, it was almost as if there needs to be a dictionary just to list each of her family members and explain more about them.
The fact that there are no vampires or werewolves in this story was refreshing, the retreat into witch lore is always intriguing, seeing as its always different and its a classic in literary terms; there is always more to learn about in regards to beliefs and how others perceive witch's. Might not be a great thing to be a witch in a severely southern "bible-belt" town. Definitely not.
This book was interesting, engaging, and after a slow start picks up tremendously, it drags the reader into a world of magic and love that is a bit Romeo and Juliet-esque. The frequent mention of different authors and their works was also refreshing and interesting because I myself have never read some of the authors mentioned and will now look into them. If I myself am intrigued by some of these classics maybe some teens that wouldn't give them the time of day before will look into them with a fresher perspective than mandatory reading. I would definitely recommend this book to others and will keep it on my shelf for future reads, after I mail it to my teen sister to borrow.
Received from: Purchased
For more information or for purchasing visit Kami Garcia or Margaret Stohl's webpage.
