Scan barcode
kyouss2's review against another edition
4.0
A great book with a strong fmc, I'm looking forward to continuing the series. My only real annoyance was the large amount of french and Spanish phrases untranslated scattered throughout.
hangngt_'s review against another edition
3.0
I love the writing style so much! I definitely want to read more of Renee Ahdieh book just because of her writing style.
although this particular book, The Beautiful, was good but also... not as immersive as I wanted. like it did intrigued me, and the characters are cool and all. but the character didn’t capture my heart. also it’s more so I read for the beautiful words, and the detailed world building. like she really nail this century.
I wanted to enjoy this. but there are some French words or mostly words describing fashion that I just don’t understand, which decrease from the atmosphere. honestly it was just okay.
love the writing style. but i wasn’t like gasping at the intricacies and brilliant of this book. although I must say it’s good.
although this particular book, The Beautiful, was good but also... not as immersive as I wanted. like it did intrigued me, and the characters are cool and all. but the character didn’t capture my heart. also it’s more so I read for the beautiful words, and the detailed world building. like she really nail this century.
I wanted to enjoy this. but there are some French words or mostly words describing fashion that I just don’t understand, which decrease from the atmosphere. honestly it was just okay.
love the writing style. but i wasn’t like gasping at the intricacies and brilliant of this book. although I must say it’s good.
jenpaul13's review against another edition
3.0
The dead may rule the city but one strong-willed young woman is determined to put an end to the needless and bloody death that seems to follow her in Renée Ahdieh's The Beautiful.
To read this, and other book reviews, visit my website: http://makinggoodstories.wordpress.com/.
Fleeing Paris in the wake of her actions to save herself from a horrible situation, seventeen year old Celine Rousseau leaves behind all she knows and her job making dresses for a chance at a new life in New Orleans. Not one to adhere to all societal conventions, Celine is quite enamored by both the beautiful and dangerous aspects of the city. When her skills as a seamstress and clever retorts are noted by a young woman interested in getting a new dress made for an upcoming masquerade ball, Celine gains entry into a respected, and feared, group, La Cour des Lions. At the helm of this court is Bastien Saint Germain, whose beauty and wit fascinates Celine, and, in turn, hers draws his attention. With brutal murders continuing to occur to those around Celine as she grapples with keeping her dark secrets and her growing attraction to Bastien, she's sure that she might be the killer's target and is stubbornly set on trapping him, whoever he may be.
Weaving elements of the mythical and inhuman alongside the more mundane features of life and society, the narrative explores the interplay between various skilled beings dwelling in darkness and unsuspecting humans against the backdrop of historic New Orleans. There's not much in the way of explaining why Bastien and Celine are attracted to one another, apart from physical beauty, and as they don't spend much time together their witty exchanges don't provide ample enough opportunity to form anything other than an insta-lovey connection, which is disappointing. The suspense was built up fairly well throughout the story, demonstrating potential and setting the scene for what is yet to come within the series; most of this installment of the narrative is dedicated to establishing characters and their relationships to one another, aspects of the world, both human and inhuman, and a central struggle between the competing sides, which while entertaining and relatively quick to read did feel primarily like a lengthy exposition.
To read this, and other book reviews, visit my website: http://makinggoodstories.wordpress.com/.
Fleeing Paris in the wake of her actions to save herself from a horrible situation, seventeen year old Celine Rousseau leaves behind all she knows and her job making dresses for a chance at a new life in New Orleans. Not one to adhere to all societal conventions, Celine is quite enamored by both the beautiful and dangerous aspects of the city. When her skills as a seamstress and clever retorts are noted by a young woman interested in getting a new dress made for an upcoming masquerade ball, Celine gains entry into a respected, and feared, group, La Cour des Lions. At the helm of this court is Bastien Saint Germain, whose beauty and wit fascinates Celine, and, in turn, hers draws his attention. With brutal murders continuing to occur to those around Celine as she grapples with keeping her dark secrets and her growing attraction to Bastien, she's sure that she might be the killer's target and is stubbornly set on trapping him, whoever he may be.
Weaving elements of the mythical and inhuman alongside the more mundane features of life and society, the narrative explores the interplay between various skilled beings dwelling in darkness and unsuspecting humans against the backdrop of historic New Orleans. There's not much in the way of explaining why Bastien and Celine are attracted to one another, apart from physical beauty, and as they don't spend much time together their witty exchanges don't provide ample enough opportunity to form anything other than an insta-lovey connection, which is disappointing. The suspense was built up fairly well throughout the story, demonstrating potential and setting the scene for what is yet to come within the series; most of this installment of the narrative is dedicated to establishing characters and their relationships to one another, aspects of the world, both human and inhuman, and a central struggle between the competing sides, which while entertaining and relatively quick to read did feel primarily like a lengthy exposition.
annepanman's review against another edition
3.0
I was looking forward to this book since I bought it. However, when I started reading it, the book was hard to follow and even harder to truly latch on to the book. It wasn't too wordy or hard to read but rather, the plot was very confusing. It was hard to understand what was going on for almost the first half of the book. Sometimes, I found myself unable to understand who's perspective I was reading it and that was also confusing. The terminology and the map was a bit hard to follow as well.
However, after the first half of the book, you were able to understand it and the story really kicked off. I really enjoyed reading the second half of the book. I loved the two main lead characters. I loved this unique world of New Orleans that has been created. I even loved the supporting characters. However, it also felt that the book took way too long for it to become interesting. The book did leave me with wanting to read the next book in the series, but it certainly could've been better.
However, after the first half of the book, you were able to understand it and the story really kicked off. I really enjoyed reading the second half of the book. I loved the two main lead characters. I loved this unique world of New Orleans that has been created. I even loved the supporting characters. However, it also felt that the book took way too long for it to become interesting. The book did leave me with wanting to read the next book in the series, but it certainly could've been better.
channingdae's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Overall I really enjoyed this book. It was a perfect read to enjoy as the weather is starting to turn chilly. I liked the premise of the book, however I found a lot of the world building to be extremely vague. Even until the end of the book, there were no explanations given for a lot of the words, people, and places used. There are three more books in the series, but I would have enjoyed receiving more information about the world. Celine was a good protagonist, she was slightly annoying at times but I liked her. I am not a huge fan of love triangles so I don’t know if I will pick up the next book, because it seemed like the next book was going to be about Bastien, Michael, and Celine. I didn’t find myself becoming particularly fond of any of the characters but I enjoyed the aesthetic of New Orleans.
winecellarlibrary's review against another edition
4.0
This review is also available on my blog: Wine Cellar Library
"'I am not so captivated by the beautiful, monsieur.' Celine met his gaze without wavering. 'For I know beauty is only a moment in time.'"
I first encountered this book on Bookish First. After reading the sample provided, I was determined to obtain a copy. The setting is captivating: New Orleans, 1872, right around Mardi Gras. There are festivals and parades and the whole city is bright with celebration, despite the recent gruesome murder of a young girl.
A group of girls from various countries in Europe have landed at port and will come to live at a convent, where they will work and hope to be matched with a husband. All are escaping something in their past, making this their best chance for a good life. Celine's past is darkest of all and she is desperate to keep it hidden. However, darkness seems to follow her, and she can't help but admit her increasing attraction to it.
One of the best aspects of the novel is how it challenges the social norms of the era. For instance, minorities have positions of authority and are well-respected, and the fashionable Odette proudly wears trousers. Bastien is a minority and he is widely regarded as the handsomest of devils by everyone who looks upon him.
I had high hopes embarking on this novel. I read it over the course of a week as a buddy read on Instagram with daily discussions. Unfortunately, it wasn't as spectacular as I had hoped. The storyline is just a little lackluster, as are Celine's interactions with her two potential love interests. I was left feeling sort of incomplete after finishing the book.
The ending is a cliffhanger, and the way it concluded is compelling enough that I am excited to read the second book in the series when it is published. Overall, this was a good book, and I'm hoping that its sequel will be even better.
"'I am not so captivated by the beautiful, monsieur.' Celine met his gaze without wavering. 'For I know beauty is only a moment in time.'"
I first encountered this book on Bookish First. After reading the sample provided, I was determined to obtain a copy. The setting is captivating: New Orleans, 1872, right around Mardi Gras. There are festivals and parades and the whole city is bright with celebration, despite the recent gruesome murder of a young girl.
A group of girls from various countries in Europe have landed at port and will come to live at a convent, where they will work and hope to be matched with a husband. All are escaping something in their past, making this their best chance for a good life. Celine's past is darkest of all and she is desperate to keep it hidden. However, darkness seems to follow her, and she can't help but admit her increasing attraction to it.
One of the best aspects of the novel is how it challenges the social norms of the era. For instance, minorities have positions of authority and are well-respected, and the fashionable Odette proudly wears trousers. Bastien is a minority and he is widely regarded as the handsomest of devils by everyone who looks upon him.
I had high hopes embarking on this novel. I read it over the course of a week as a buddy read on Instagram with daily discussions. Unfortunately, it wasn't as spectacular as I had hoped. The storyline is just a little lackluster, as are Celine's interactions with her two potential love interests. I was left feeling sort of incomplete after finishing the book.
The ending is a cliffhanger, and the way it concluded is compelling enough that I am excited to read the second book in the series when it is published. Overall, this was a good book, and I'm hoping that its sequel will be even better.
niawriteswords's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
abstaffor's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
ms_morri1's review against another edition
2.0
This is more like a 2.5 for me. As a reintroduction to vampires, this is not a bad one, but there were too many hints of Twilight in it that I’ve decided to quit while I’m ahead (which is what I wish I’d done with Twilight.) Having said this, I want to stress that Celine is NOT Bella. There’s no creepy stalking and Celine can hold her own against monsters, thank you very much.
Having said that, there were tropes that pop up in YA and vampire novels that really just make me very frustrated and not want to carry on the series. I liked Celine’s personal journey through this book and even though there were hints of a love triangle, she knew who she wanted to be with. However, this book does fall prey to the plot devices that separate the couple that will clearly end up together, turning the love triangle into the thing I hate most about them. I think this more than anything is what took it from a 4 star to a 3.5 for me.
Also, the mystery while there feels more like an afterthought, and... if you’re going to include a mystery, I feel like I should be able to have a theory of who the killer is, and not just told at the end with no real indication to who the villains are.
I didn’t hate this book, give me Celine over Bella any day. I just felt that the author didn’t push the vampire novel as far as she could have.
Having said that, there were tropes that pop up in YA and vampire novels that really just make me very frustrated and not want to carry on the series. I liked Celine’s personal journey through this book and even though there were hints of a love triangle, she knew who she wanted to be with. However, this book does fall prey to the plot devices that separate the couple that will clearly end up together, turning the love triangle into the thing I hate most about them. I think this more than anything is what took it from a 4 star to a 3.5 for me.
Also, the mystery while there feels more like an afterthought, and... if you’re going to include a mystery, I feel like I should be able to have a theory of who the killer is, and not just told at the end with no real indication to who the villains are.
I didn’t hate this book, give me Celine over Bella any day. I just felt that the author didn’t push the vampire novel as far as she could have.
elvaira_ludina's review against another edition
3.0
Are we not, in 2023, past the need for love triangles? (I know this book was written in 2019, but you know what I mean)