Beautiful Creatures
By Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl
Publication date: December 2009
My rating: *****
My review:
Ethan Wate looks forward to the day he graduates high school so he can leave Gatlin, South Carolina for good. Then this stifling community with its small-minded citizens and traditions is stirred up with the arrival of Lena Duchannes, the beautiful niece of Macon Ravenwood, the town recluse. Ethan is shocked when he sees Lena because he recognizes her from his nightmarish dreams. While the town does its best to make Lena feel unwelcome, Ethan tries to find a way to save her from her fate.
Beautiful Creatures is a Southern gothic novel, a paranormal romance, and a suspense novel all rolled into one. The novel is told from the point of Ethan and his voice sounds authentic. Usually paranormal romance is told from the viewpoint of the girl so I found this refreshing. Lena is a strong yet fragile girl who has faced a lifetime of loss and not fitting in. I love the way she fights back against the girls who try to antagonize her. I also liked the supporting characters, particularly Amma, the Wate family's supersitious housekeeper and cook, and Macon, Lena's mysterious uncle. Even the locations take on a character of their own, especially Ravenwood Manor, Lena's home.
I don't want to give away too much about the novel but it is beautifully written with haunting language. I particularly enjoyed the song that provided clues for Ethan and Lena throughout the novel. I would have to say that this is the best novel I've read this year and it is definitely one of my favorite YA novels. I would highly recommend this novel, especially to those who enjoy well written paranormal romance like Maggie Stiefvater's Shiver. I would also suggest this as a crossover novel for women who enjoyed Twilight, although I believe Beautiful Creatures to be infinitely superior. If you haven't read Beautiful Creatures, add it to your TBR list. You won't be disappointed.
Thanks for your great review! I was interested about Beautiful Creatures ever since it came out, but haven't read it. I'll definitely going to read it now, although I haven't read Twilight or Shiver, I think I'll like this one :)
ReplyDeleteI loved this one, too, Christina. It just felt so epic with all the history and magic.
ReplyDeleteI just finished Ash (sorry it took so long to get back to you about that!)...it was wonderful, I just loved the way it was written so beautifully like a classic fairy tale with such amazing twists to the story!
Great review. I may just have to check this one out.
ReplyDeleteGreat review! I felt the same way about it. I loved it being told from Ethans POV and I believe I described it as hauntingly beautiful as well.
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