Beautiful Creatures: Beautiful Creatures, Book 1

So, as many of you know, I'm someone who always likes to read the book before seeing the film. I picked up Beautiful Creatures the book about a week ago because I wanted to read it before I saw the film. To my surprise, it was...let's call it unconventional. First of all, the book is 563 pages long. No way my publishing company would have been cool with that! Not that I'm complaining. It was 563 pages of awesomeness, but I was kind of surprised at the length. Secondly, the narrator is a guy. Now, I keep hearing people talk about how most readers are women and therefore most readers (at least in YA) prefer a female narrator. Now, I don't necessarily share that sentiment, but I do sort of understand it. That said, some of the best YA books I've read in the past year have included male narrators. Just sayin'. Moving on. This book was great! Despite the length, it was a quick read because the writing flowed so well. Ethan Wate is a typical teenage boy who is bored with small town life and can't wait to get out of his home town and go off to see the world through college. He's smart, reads a lot (so I tend to like him) and has a typical teenage boy attitude about things. In short, he's hilarious. The one wrinkle in his life is that his mother passed away roughly a year before and since then his father has sunk into a deep depression. Luckily, he still has a housekeeper/guardian/butt kicker at home to both love and keep him in line. One of the things I loved about this story was his relationship to Amma. She's helped raise him and always been there, so he's unfailingly loyal to her. It was refreshing to read about. Lena is a pretty good heroine as well. I think some people might find her less than a strong heroine. Nothing near as bad as a certain teenaged, vampire-loving heroine, but not the strongest female lead either. But, just as Bela never bothered me because--let's face it--she's a teenager, and having been an insecure teen myself, I have a hard time judging others for it, Lena didn't bother me. She was frightened by what was happening to her, just as any human being would be, and the way her emotions lashed out with breaking glass and tornadoes more than compensated for her vulnerability. I especially loved the supporting characters in the story. They gave it so much spice! I've already mentioned Amma, but Marion the Librarian was an immediate favorite of mine (she likes awesome quotes too) and Uncle Macon was an enigma wrapped in an educated European gentleman. I wish we'd have been able to see more of him. And then there was Ethan's best friend, Link. He was hysterical! He always had something awesome to say, while still exercising best friend loyalties. I found myself smiling whenever he showed up because I knew the scene was about to get more colorful. Loved him! So Ethan meets and is drawn to Lena, who is a Caster (pretty much a witch) but there's a whole complicated bit about whether her powers will be claimed for good or evil, who her family really is, and whether or not she has a choice in her own future. Add in tons of drama, an eccentric family, a gossipy small town, and plenty of teenaged angst, and you have a pretty great story. If I had any complaints, it would be that the ending was so fast-paced, had so much action (if you can complain about that) that I wish that maybe at some point it could have slowed down and had just a little more explanation. But it was a minor thing. At no point did I feel confused. I just wanted some things clarified. Maybe I'm slow on the uptake. It left me wanting just enough to be excited to read book 2. Anyway, overall this is a fantastic read! It's full of fun characters, intense plots, and pretty sweet good-vs.-evil show downs. Want to do me a favor? Go out and read this book! Then email so we can discuss! 'Cause, you know, it was awesome! :D

I wasn't immediately sucked in to this story. It took me awhile to get a grasp on the main character, Ethan. The story also throws alot at you in the beginning, and I was trying to sort it all out. But once I got a feel for this world, I was dragged in. There were so many great Characters in this story. The Character development was spot on. This story is told in Ethan's point of view. Once I did get a good idea of who Ethan is, his point of view became one of my favorite parts. So many books in the YA world, especially in the supernatural romance genre, are told in a girl's point of view. The change was refreshing. Ethan is a good kid with a good head on his shoulders. While he is part of the "popular crowd", he is different than the rest of the popular kids in town. He thrives for more than what his small town can give him. Ethan's family was interesting to read about. Ethan's caretaker, Amma, was a cool chick. She is a very superstitious older lady that has many secrets hidden behind her fried chicken and lemon meringue pie. Ethan's dad was a shut in that hasn't gotten over the loss of his wife. I felt bad for Ethan. It was almost as if he lost both parents. I was glad he had Amma. Ethan's three great Aunts were hysterical, crazy old ladies that often had me cracking up. I loved Lena. Even though she wants to fit in and have friends at school, she can't pretend to be something she is not. She likes answering teachers questions and likes her assigned reading. If the world was right, girls like her would be the popular ones. I love how she has her own style. Lena carries alot of weight on her shoulders for a fifteen year old girl. She doesn't fully understand her powers yet and is terrified of what might happen when she turns sixteen. Lena lives with her uncle Macon in the very old family house(was house was totally awesome by the way). Even though I didn't know whether Macon was good or not in the beginning, I liked him right away for his dry sense of humor. The relationship between Ethan and Lena was great. They were so sweet together. Even though they have such a strong pull together with all the supernatural things happening to them (Trying not to give spoilers), the romance was gradual. I loved how the roles were switched from the norm in this story. Instead of the supernatural boy moving into a new town and meet mortal girl, you have exactly the opposite. This book reminded me of what it's like in a small town. You really got a good painting for what this town looks like. I could picture it in my head so easily. There were a few parts I had a hard time reading because of some of the small minded town's people. There was more than once that I wanted Lena to go full out Carrie on some of them. So much happened in the ending. It was completely epic, impossible to stop reading. I was left with alot of questions that I am dying to find out. I loved this story so much and I really wanted to give it a whole five stars. But I couldn't for one reason. The age of the highschool kids bothered me. These kids are supposed to be fifteen and sixteen, yet they are the school's popular crowd. They are the head cheerleaders and lead basketball players. It was almost like the older grades didn't exist. I could have fallen for it if this was a large school. But I know in small towns with small schools, the different grades are more mixed. But in the end I really loved this original story. It had romance, magic, suspense, everything I want in a story. Both authors truly showed their talent in this fantastic debut. I will definitely be getting the sequel the day it comes out. 4.5 stars!

I loved the movie but loved the book even more. I enjoyed the story ?INE of good versus evil. Me a was a force to be reckoned with. Loved every moment of this book..

Beautiful Creatures, by coauthors Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl, is a gorgeously written southern gothic romance about two young lovers who refuse to let a family curse determine their fate. They soon learn that changing fate takes more than determination, and if they fail, they could lose more than just each other. Ethan Wate has spent the last 16 years of his life pretending to fit in with the people of Gatlin, a small southern town where nothing happens and life never changes. At least that's how life was before Lena Duchannes arrived. Not only is she the mysterious girl who has been haunting his dreams for weeks, but she's also the niece of Macon Ravenwood, Gatlin's most eccentric and reclusive citizen. Being an outsider and the teenage niece of the town shut-in, whose only means of transportation is a creepy black hearse, makes Lena less than welcome in her new community. Yet, Ethan is inexplicably drawn to this beautiful, strange girl who is hiding a dangerous secret. Beautiful Creatures is a brilliantly crafted novel in which a captivating mystery unfolds piece by piece as Ethan and Lena dig into Gatlin's past to thwart a curse that has plagued her family for generations. In the process, Ethan's life changes forever when he learns that there is a much darker side to his sleepy hometown. Lines are drawn and forces, both social and magical, work toward splitting the two young lovers apart. With each new discovery, the thrills and dangers increase as he and Lena struggle against unforgiving locals, secretive relatives, and a curse that places everyone they love at the brink of destruction. The story of these two star-crossed lovers is exquisitely told, drawing out their characters bit by bit with each new test of will, forcing them to make choices that send them headlong into a family feud that spans generations. The strength of this novel lies in its character development. Ethan and Lena easily carry the story, but the secondary characters are equally as strong and engaging, especially Macon Ravenwood who threatens to steal every scene in which he appears. In a market driven by young adult paranormal romances that feature desperately beautiful girls who are protected by their stunningly handsome/dangerous boyfriends, Beautiful Creatures is a breath of fresh air. Not only does it take a sideways view of the paranormal romance by casting Ethan as the point of view character, but it also portrays him as an average guy with no special powers other than his unique connection to Lena. Compared to his literary peers, Ethan is a nice guy who falls for an girl who just happens to have an extraordinary gift. Beautiful Creatures is a page-turner packed with southern mystery, style, and charm - not to mention enough twists and turns to keep even the savviest mystery reader on her toes. This is one of those books that you won't want to put down even after you have read the last page. Luckily, Beautiful Darkness, the next book in the series, was released on October 12, 2010.

There are many things to love about Beautiful Creatures: the drive of the narrative, close relationships, family with all of its quirks and, in this case, deadly difficulties, the deliciously detailed descriptions (yes, I went there) and, especially on the audiobook side, the song that foreshadows events while eerily linking Lena & Ethan. I also love Lena and Ethan's tie to the past. Their twist on the magic theme so prevalent in YA is refreshing. One very large hurdle for me to fully love the book, however, is that most of the characters are single-side and, especially, its characterization of the South. Most of the characters, with the exception of Lena and Macon, are cliché cardboard cutouts, none more so than the town's people. You couldn't walk into the most backwater KKK meeting and find a more brutish, bigoted, narrow-minded parochial and (add your favorite adjective here) group of people than the citizens of Gatlin and the students of Stonewall Jackson High. Ms Garcia and Ms. Stohl both toured the South and so, aptly describe many of the surface elements of the South, but miss the depth of the characters and the region. I believe, whatever your personal bias and background, one needs to be able to empathetically approach their material. Even if you're raised to think that the South is populated by redneck dolts, you still need to be open to the real possibilities and life there. This limited view of the South is no better than depicting a New York City as being populated by hard-edged, impolite and uncaring Yankees. Bias-based characterization of any place lessens the writing, but this is true in spade if it is the primary setting of your story. I do not see that type empathy written in the story; liking pecan pie just doesn't do the trick. So, you have -the doltish Gatlin residents and their children -the lovely, well-spoken transplant, Marian -the old southern gentleman, Macon -the doting but wise "Mammy", Amma -the slightly wild, should have been on "Dukes of Hazzard", Link -the wild, femme fatale sister, Ridley It sounds like a Southern Clue game. It is safe to say that they stay in character. The dialog, desires and doings of their character are all quite predictable. In an interview, the authors even admit that Ethan is the boyfriend they always wished they had. While you may want a perfect boyfriend, I think stories are better populated by a release 2 version; better but not perfect. Now some might say that nuance doesn't really belong in a YA novel. Broad strokes are needed to make the point for the teen audience. I think not. Nuance is welcome here while leaving some adult themes behind. Indeed, I believe a bit of complexity, world-worn lessons and bringing up short embedded expectations are exactly what ought to be in YA books. This allows us to pass on to a new generation fully-fleshed out challenges to their understanding of the world and people. Finally, we can take lessons of implication from the characters. For example take, Mariam Ashcroft, the wise and caring librarian who is a bit eccentric. She, of course, doesn't belong to Gatlin; otherwise she would have to be an idiot. Indeed, Ethan wonders "I could never quite figure out what someone like Marian was doing in a town like Gatlin." Actually, I was being too narrow-minded earlier. The authors don't just diss the South, they pretty much trash small towns in general as being a worthless residence for anyone with half a brain. She is a bit secretive and has a side that keeps her underground, both literally and figuratively. Her character, however, lacks nuance in either setting. Beloved, but one sided. For full-disclosure, I grew up in the Pacific Northwest (near Seattle) but have lived in the Carolinas for about 20 years, with most of those years in South Carolina. Every region has its blind spots and challenges, but in all my time here, including time in a number of small towns, I've never met the South the authors describe or the people who inhabit their South. Mine's a bit prettier and grittier, trendier and conservative and parochial and worldly-minded. In other words, it's messier. I switched between the Kindle edition and the Audible version, made a bit more difficult due to Audible still needing to enable Whispersync for Voice on the Windows Phone app. Yet another plug to the development team. It is read well by Kevin T Collins; his inflections and tone is quite good. His southern accent isn't overdone, which is all too often the case. What makes the audible version great is the eerily performed "16 Moons" song by Michele McGonigle. I can't image a more perfectly fitting performance. I've spent a good chunk of this review on the setting because it is so important to the story, the characters and even the plot. I dare say one could come away believing I don't think much of the authors or the story. That's not the case. I respect the authors and, overall, enjoyed the story. It is due to that respect for both I'm so hard on the setting and the characters. I believe there can be so much more here with a bit more nuance. In fact, I anticipate reading Beautiful Darkness and look forward to other work they produce together or individually. I simply hope they let the mess of this world seep through a little bit.

In my eyes, there are books and then there are BOOKS. Every time I crack open a book, I wonder if this will be the one. The book that whisks me away to a new place, consumes me, calls to me, and lures me away from other things. Is it a book that haunts my thoughts? Does it make me believe that I am there in its world vs. being in my world? And most importantly, when I finish the last page, does it make me want to go back and read it over and over again? Beautiful Creatures is definitely one of those books that meet the criteria for "stand out" book in a genre. After reading about 15 pages, I found myself being consumed by the story. If I hadn't needed to be a responsible adult, I would have just kept reading and finished it in one sitting. However, by the time I got up to 300 pages, my ability to be a responsible adult was quickly taking second place to my need to finish the book. Garcia and Stohl have created a story that is gorgeous, haunting, and addictive. There is a bit of a risk that an author(s) take when a debut novel is 563 pages. Either you better be able to capture the reader right from the beginning or risk losing them after 200 or 300 pages. Never once did I have the sense that the story was taking too long or why hadn't it ended yet. The writing is rich and well-crafted. What is also amazing to me is that the writing is also seamless. There is no sense that this is a novel written by two people. It is written as one authorial voice with both authors being deeply in-tune with one another. One element that I was drawn to in the story was the sense of place and history that is evoked by the plot and characters. I could imagine myself in Gatlin, seeing Amma make biscuits or pie, feel the humidity, or hear the southern drawl of the characters. I was fascinated with how Garcia and Stohl used the past and tied it into the present. And there was a community feel. Most YA fiction seems to leave out adults. However, Ethan and Lena were surrounded by adults - some who cared, some who got in there way, some who were dangerous, and some who assisted them. Finally as I read through Beautiful Creatures, I was also struck by how Garcia and Stohl balanced tension, conflict, and mystery throughout the story. I didn't just feel like the characters were solely in love with one another and caught up in their own world. Instead the challenges faced by both Lena and Ethan kept them solidly grounded in real life issues even whilst dealing with supernatural ones. I am so glad that there will be a second book...now what to do as I wait.

Try as I might, I couldn't get through this big girl in one night over the holiday break! But, oh! I did try! Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl is a southern, Gothic tale of a small town who revels in their reenactments, supports voodoo and strong Baptist beliefs in the same breath, and knows there is something going on in the Ravenwood estate- especially when Macon Ravenwood's niece Lena Duchannes shows up to live there. Ethan Wate is an average high school boy who plays on the basketball team, "belongs" without actually belonging, and goes through the motions of adolescence. Then again, maybe he isn't so average... his mother dies, his father becomes a shut-in, and his voodoo practicing nanny/housekeeper, Amma, keeps hiding charms around the house to protect him (some which contain creepy little chicken bones Ethan suspects were from dinner). When Lena comes to Gatlin High and the rest of the school immediately pegs her as Macon Ravenwood's creepy niece, Ethan feels oddly protective of her. This of course instantly makes him as much of a pariah as Lena is. Quickly, however, it becomes clear to Ethan that despite their feelings for one another, Lena is hiding something from him. Upon meeting the infamous hermit, Macon Ravenwood, Ethan finds out what is really going on with Lena. However, the extent of her secret is still to be uncovered. Lena and Ethan must delve into the secret history of Gatlin in order to save Lena from a fate she is terrified to see. This book is almost 600 pages, which can be daunting to say the least. While I felt it moved pretty swiftly, looking back I see the real meat of the story didn't evolve until 300 pages into the novel. Therefore, this may not be the best novel to get a reluctant kid to read. However, if you have the kind of kid who loves the supernatural books and can plod through such a tome, this is a really cool story. I love the Gothic, southern elements that creep into even the smallest elements of the story. For instance, Ethan has three kooky, elderly aunts he spends time with each and every week. He takes them to church, keeps them from killing each other, and even makes emergency vet runs when one clubs the other's dog thinking it was a rat. There is a southern hospitality about this book that is just charming. There are other less appealing aspects of such a small-town culture, too, though. For instance, when odd things happen around Lena (glass explodes out of a window when a group of girls are tormenting her), the town mothers and DAR members rally together to kick her out of school, claiming she is an evil influence on their children. The town goes to great lengths to get rid of Lena, simply because she is related to Macon Ravenwood. Even teachers and the principal want her gone for no other reason than she "might" be responsible for the odd things that happen. This is a really interesting book, and I loved it, but the size and belated action might make it difficult for some to get through. I would suggest giving it to a strong reader who can spend extended periods of time reading. Otherwise, you will keep plucking your way through this book and it will consume the entire year! I also think this is more of a "girl" book than a "guy" book. While there is some interesting supernatural content, there is a lot about the relationship between Lena and Ethan, as well as a great deal about love, friendships, etc. The action is more of an undertone to the mystery of the relationships in the story. Nonetheless, this was a great book that kept me up half the night until I just couldn't go on any longer! I passed out on top of the book dreaming about creepy Gothic graves and chicken bones (and possibly even drooling a little bit!). Great read!

Wow! What can I say here. I'm SO glad I finally read this book! I can't wait to get into the rest of the series! It was amazing!! :) I loved every second of this book. Only took me about 3 days; it's a long book. But it was worth it. First, let me say that I truly enjoyed the fact that this book was from the point of view of a boy. I love seeing what the boys see. It's different, most books always are from the girl's side. I enjoyed watching the BOY fall for the GIRL instead of the other way around. It was nice and refreshing. Ethan. I love you? He was so sweet, loving, he was loyal, trusting, and he would do ANYTHING for Lena. It was beautiful. His love for her was so strong. He was her rock and I loved that about him. He didn't care what others thought or said and did. He wanted to be with Lena and that's what he did. Nothing would have stopped him from doing so. Lena!!! GIRL CAN YOU BE MY BEST FRIEND?! AH! Lena was awesome. She was just a Caster that wanted to be normal. If I was her, and all those things happened to me, I may have just cried and given up. She was DETERMINED and I loved that about her. She had a passion and she was not going to let silly little teenage girls ruin that for her. Plus, she could do some pretty awesome stuff. Breaking windows? Thunder storms? AH! She was amazing. This book... it kinda had it all in my mind for a paranormal story. It had AWESOME powers. The things that could happen with these Casters, and all the different types, I love it! There were so many unique things... it was beautiful. There were strong family ties, family history, and true love. It was just... I don't even have words to describe it. I loved it. I loved everything about this story. And the end... The end killed me! When it got closer to her birthday, I just was hooked and I couldn't put the book down. Everything just... WOW! No spoilers, so I can't say what the wow part was, but it was wow worthy!! True love, it definitely conquers all... And that ending! I feel I need to order the next book like, NOW! I was left like, NO you can't just END there! There is no way. I'm dying. A piece of my heart was left in this book. It was amazing. I loved it. Please read this if you have no already. Just... just an amazing start to a series and I cannot wait to get my hands on the next book :)