Quick Stats:
Overall: 5/5 Stars
Characters: 5/5
Setting: 5/5
Writing: 5/5
Plot and Themes: 4.5/5
Awesomeness Factor: 5/5
“We forget our dreams, but nightmares linger with us evermore.”
// Content Warning: Violence, Death, Gun Violence, Torture, Rape Mention, Rape, Murder, Racism, Racist Slurs, Misogyny //
“There was no way for us to turn back. The tinder has been collected. The match has been struck.
Only one of us can survive the fires of Hell.”
Release Date: 10/8/2019
Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers
Page Count: 448
Premise:
The Beautiful follows Celine as she flees her life in Paris and goes to New Orleans. Staying in the convent, Celine falls in love with the city she's taken refuge in. But when young girls start being found dead, Celine must delve into the dark underworld of the city to find the murderer.
“I am the spider. I set silken traps. I watch as you step into my web.
I wait to strike.
But do not fear. I promise I will never forget you.”
- Writing & Setting-
There are two aspects of this book that I think are causing people to not enjoy it. The first- the writing. If you’re familiar with Renee Ahdieh’s books, then you know her writing style. The prose is elegant, while still including fun banter between the characters and interesting asides. The majority of the book is in 3rd person, following Celine and Bastien, but there are 1st person chapters interjected, told from the point of view of the mystery murderer. While I loved each perspective, I think the mystery murderer was the most interesting (plus they quoted Aida so I love them now). However, the reason I think the writing might be a downside to some people, is that it’s a little dense. If you’ve read Renee Ahdieh, this will be no surprise to you (in fact, I think her writing has gotten even better than previous books), but if you’re coming into this expecting something easy to jump into, you’ll be disappointed.
There is a benefit to the denseness of her writing- it really, really helps set the scene and make the setting feel alive. You can tell Renee Ahdieh did her research when writing this book. The way she describes the food and fashion of the time is absolutely mesmerizing. She captures the sights and smells of 1870’s New Orleans so well, you feel transported there while you’re reading.
“No matter where she went, danger followed.
And it horrified her. Just as it thrilled her.”
- Plot -
Now for the second reason why people might not like this book (or why they might love it!)- the plot. This book is primarily a romance, with a hint of murder mystery, but overall it’s heavily character driven. This book is about Celine, Bastien, and the murderer. It’s about uncovering each characters past and seeing how and why it’s influencing the present. I know a lot of people were excited about the vampires, but the entire vampire aspect really doesn’t play a large role until the latter half of the book, and even then, it isn’t quite what most people (myself included) expected. I think a lot of people were thinking this book would be more like Twilight or other previous YA paranormal romances, but the paranormal aspect really doesn’t come to play until close to the end. For the majority of the book, it’s a historical romance with an interesting mystery.
Despite it not being what I expected, I really did love the plot of this book. It was a little slower, but it was so worth it. And when the plot picks up, it picks up. I didn’t want this book to end. The twists and reveals were amazing, and the suspense was killing me throughout the book. I couldn’t put it down.
“I am not so captivated by the beautiful, monsieur. For I know beauty is only a moment in time.”
- Characters -
The Beautiful has a few important characters, and I love them all so much. Celine, the main protagonist, is such a strong character, whose backstory is really interesting. I wish I could elaborate more on it, but no spoilers. I will just say- they handled it really well. Bastien, the main love interest, is such a fun character. Their romance is rooted in them being equals (and Shakespeare). The side characters are also really compelling, all of them were well rounded and interesting on their own. My only complaint is that by the end, some of the character motivations (and a little bit of the paranormal stuff) are a little murky. And by some of the characters, I really just mean one specific character. However, I think this will all be dealt with in the sequel. Have I mentioned yet that I’m dying for the sequel?!
“The truth is not always what you see.”
- Conclusion -
Pros- Great characters, great writing, great world-- basically great everything
Cons- Don’t go into this book expecting your typical paranormal romance. It’s a lot slower and denser than your average vampire book, but it's still amazing!
Overall- 5/5 stars.
While I can understand why someone may not love this book, I still would recommend it to anyone who is interested. This is definitely one of my favorite books of the year. But oh god that ending killed me and I don’t know how to cope.
“It always ends in blood.”
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From the Publisher
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| The Beautiful | The Damned | The Righteous | The Ruined | |
| Customer Reviews |
2,882
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1,756
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611
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110
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| Price | $11.79 | $13.81 | $8.01 | $12.03 |
| Read the entire series: | Book #1 | Book #2 | Book #3 | Book #4 |
| In 1872, New Orleans is a city ruled by the dead. | Sébastien Saint Germain is now cursed and forever changed. | Pippa journeys to the treacherous and beguiling world of the fey in search of answers only to fall in love. | The stunning conclusion to the instant New York Times bestselling quartet that began with The Beautiful. |
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| The Wrath & the Dawn | The Rose & the Dagger | Flame in the Mist | Smoke in the Sun | |
| Customer Reviews |
8,451
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5,776
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1,916
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933
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| Price | $7.68 | $10.99 | $10.99 | $10.99 |
| More by Renée Ahdieh: | The Wrath and the Dawn (Book #1) | The Wrath and the Dawn (Book #2) | Flame in the Mist (Book #1) | Flame in the Mist (Book #2) |
| A sumptuous and epically told love story inspired by A Thousand and One Nights. | In a land on the brink of war, Shahrzad has been torn from the love of her husband Khalid, the Caliph of Khorasan. | A sweeping, action-packed YA adventure set against the backdrop of Feudal Japan. | An addictive finale that will leave readers breathless. |
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Reviews with images
Vampire with a strong female MC
“𝗜 𝗮𝗺 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝘀𝗼 𝗰𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗮𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘂𝗹, 𝗺𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗲𝘂𝗿...𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝗜 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗯𝗲𝗮𝘂𝘁𝘆 𝗶𝘀 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝘆 𝗮 𝗺𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲.” —Renee AhdiehIt’s 1872 and New Orleans is a city ruled by the dead, the La Cour Des Lions. But this makes it the perfect refuge for Celine, who flees France in search of a new start. A dangerous string of murders quickly exposes her into the glitzy underworld and the enigmatic Bastien Saint Germain. But some secrets won’t stay hidden for long, especially when she’s forced to take matters into her own hands.This story was a pleasant surprise. Mysterious characters, a morally gray protagonist, and a tantalizing but forbidden romance. Ahdieh’s world building was rich and descriptive. I immediately fell in love with the version of New Orleans she created. Better still, just when I thought I had figured out who the story’s villain was, I was tricked! I love a story that catches you by surprise and keeps you guessing.“𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝘂𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗶𝘁 𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄𝘀 𝘂𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘃𝗲 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗽𝗼𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗲. 𝗧𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗲 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗯𝗲𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲.”Celine was a character I admired. She found courage in spite of danger. She stood up for herself despite her struggles. And she never let social norms dictate her beliefs or decisions. For a woman of her time, she was a very modern girl. I think the setting of New Orleans encouraged this, allowed her to flourish. Especially her friend Odette. I LOVED Odette. And Pippa.The other thing I really liked about this book was the dialogue. Dialogue can make or break a story, and I have infinite appreciation for good dialogue, the kind you read, and within the first few pages, you know it’s going to be excellent! The phrases characters used swept me into the past. Ahdieh did a great job with it.The plot itself was familiar, with a slight twist. A battle ground for ancient rivals, an age old feud between dark creatures, a forbidden love trope. These ideas were captured beautifully in a fresh way, with a slightly unexpected difference that I appreciated. I liked all the vampiric parallels woven throughout the story. It was everything I expect when reading a vampiric novel. Definitely a must read for paranormal and vampire lovers, especially those who like historical aspects in their stories. 𝗠𝗬 𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: 𝟰/𝟱⭐️
Top reviews from the United States
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Everything from the characters, the setting, & the plot- was exactly what I wanted it to be, & more.
Reviewed in the United States on February 8, 2020Reviewed in the United States on October 17, 2019
Reviewed in the United States on January 18, 2024
Top reviews from other countries
Charlotte Watkins
Beautiful, Dangerous, Brutal & Alluring - Everything That A Vampire Story Should Be
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 16, 2021