In 1872, New Orleans is a city ruled by the dead. But to seventeen-year-old Celine Rousseau, New Orleans provides her a refuge after she’s forced to flee her life as a dressmaker in Paris. Taken in by the sisters of the Ursuline convent along with six other girls, Celine quickly becomes enamored with the vibrant city from the music to the food to the soirées and—especially—to the danger. She soon becomes embroiled in the city’s glitzy underworld, known as La Cour des Lions, after catching the eye of the group’s leader, the enigmatic Sébastien Saint Germain. When the body of one of the girls from the convent is found in the lair of La Cour des Lions, Celine battles her attraction to him and suspicions about Sébastien’s guilt along with the shame of her own horrible secret.
When more bodies are discovered, each crime more gruesome than the last, Celine and New Orleans become gripped by the terror of a serial killer on the loose—one Celine is sure has set her in his sights . . . and who may even be the young man who has stolen her heart. As the murders continue to go unsolved, Celine takes matters into her own hands and soon uncovers something even more shocking: an age-old feud from the darkest creatures of the underworld reveals a truth about Celine she always suspected simmered just beneath the surface.
Title: The Beautiful
Author: Renee Ahdieh
Published: October 8th 2019 by G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers
Genre: Romance, Paranormal, YA
Stars: 4 Content Rating: 5 (some language and sexual innuendo)
Hello lovelies! I haven’t been reading quite as much since school started for my kids. My days are full of driving kids to and from things. However, I had heard so much about The Beautiful and bought it along with the new illustrated Harry Potter! Book hauls are the best. After I read The Silent Patient for our book club I immediately started this one. A dark romance set in 1800’s New Orleans? With demon creatures and mystery? I really enjoyed it!
I hate giving too much away and always like to keep my reviews spoiler free. So how about we do a little I loved and hate. I like doing my reviews this way because it is just so darn simple. Here we go.
What I didn’t like about the book was mostly the writing style. Renee is a great story teller, but I felt like she kept using the same phrases all the time. I kept wondering if she didn’t have any other way to describe that thing, or person. I also felt like it was a little long for what it was and wanted more of the witty conversations. Very YA. Lots of sexual innuendos and talking about it without doing anything. I usually keep track of the language but I didn’t this time.. there were a few F***. So if that bothers you then don’t read this one!
What I loved about the book is that it hit all the dark/ paranormal /mystery /thriller romance that I love to read. It kept me guessing through out. When it became obvious it was going to be a series I was happy and disappointed at the same time. (can no one write just ONE good book anymore?) Celine is strong woman still figuring herself out but stands up for herself. She is pretty fearless and I loved hearing her sharp wit. Bastien was equally compelling and broody and pretty much all the things I wanted in a romance like this. I honestly cant wait for the next book even though I’m disappointed it will be starting with some sort of love triangle. Insert emoji with a hand to forehead here.
Lets just say that it totally lived up to the hype for me. I like a fun paranormal romance. The 1800’s New Orleans setting is amazing and so are the characters! I have a feeling the next book (which comes out next summer) is going to be even better. The first books in a series usually are my least favorite because there are so many introductions to people and the time and getting to know how everyone fits together. I have a feeling the second book we will really get into dark mystery that is the Brotherhood vs the Otherworlders.
Thanks for reading friends!
xoxo,
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