From Goodreads: 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.
I really liked this one. It's one of those stories that pulls you in with a slow building intensity that works superbly. I loved that it was narrated by Ethan - not only did I really like him but having it told from his point of view insured the book caught my interest. Other authors may have gone with the more obvious choice of having Lena narrate the story.
I really enjoyed all the mythology and having it set in the South. It gave it an authentic feel and made the book incredibly atmospheric - with a kind of claustrophobic sense of life in a small town with everyone knowing everyone else's business. I don't want to say too much about the story because I went into it not really knowing much about it and I really enjoyed the mystery aspect - having to work it out alongside the characters.
My favourite aspect of the book is Ethan and Lena's budding relationship. It is one of those intense attractions we've come to expect from this type of paranormal story but it also feels as if a gradual and genuine connection develops alongside this intensity. I really liked both characters and am looking forward to seeing how their story progresses in Beautiful Darkness.
A minor complaint would be that I occasionally lost track of what was going on. There were a couple of scenes that came across somewhat fragmented and I had trouble working out what was happening - even after a reread. This didn't affect my enjoyment though - in some ways in added a bit more mystery to the proceedings - but it did interrupt the flow a little bit.
I adored the ending and it sets the next book up as a must read for me. I am looking forward to immersing myself back into this world and spending time with these characters. Can't wait!
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.
I really liked this one. It's one of those stories that pulls you in with a slow building intensity that works superbly. I loved that it was narrated by Ethan - not only did I really like him but having it told from his point of view insured the book caught my interest. Other authors may have gone with the more obvious choice of having Lena narrate the story.
I really enjoyed all the mythology and having it set in the South. It gave it an authentic feel and made the book incredibly atmospheric - with a kind of claustrophobic sense of life in a small town with everyone knowing everyone else's business. I don't want to say too much about the story because I went into it not really knowing much about it and I really enjoyed the mystery aspect - having to work it out alongside the characters.
My favourite aspect of the book is Ethan and Lena's budding relationship. It is one of those intense attractions we've come to expect from this type of paranormal story but it also feels as if a gradual and genuine connection develops alongside this intensity. I really liked both characters and am looking forward to seeing how their story progresses in Beautiful Darkness.
A minor complaint would be that I occasionally lost track of what was going on. There were a couple of scenes that came across somewhat fragmented and I had trouble working out what was happening - even after a reread. This didn't affect my enjoyment though - in some ways in added a bit more mystery to the proceedings - but it did interrupt the flow a little bit.
I adored the ending and it sets the next book up as a must read for me. I am looking forward to immersing myself back into this world and spending time with these characters. Can't wait!
Check back tomorrow for my review of Beautiful Darkness:)
4 comments:
I totally agree with this review (although I had a couple more issues with Ethan's voice at times etc). Beautiful Creatures was so atmospheric and the build up of the relationship between Ethan and Lena was awesome.
Great, review! So well thought-out
Thanks for the great review and warning about the fragmented sections. I've had this on my shelf for like ever.
The ending was great, wasn't it?! I really didn't see it coming!
I've been on the fence about this one for AGES and now I just give it a go. Thanks for the great review :)
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