Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl
 Buy on Amazon | Beautiful Creatures (Beautiful Creatures, Book 1)By: Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl Published by: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers ISBN: 0316077038 Genre: YA, Paranormal Facebook Fanpage: HERE Author’s Website: Author’s Twitter: Recommendable for people who: |
Synopsis (from Amazon):
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.
My Thoughts:
I. LOVED. THIS. BOOK. {see my GOODREADS updates}
So this book is long. Scary long, but it is so worth it. I loved all the characters.
The main character, Ethan is so sweet. Just a boy, who’s lost his mom, and kind of lost his dad. You just want to hug him. The book is told from his perspective and it is refreshing to read a book written from the “guys” POV.
Lena, the main character girl, is so relatable. I mean, at least for me. A girl that’s “different” (ie not the cookie cutter cutesie type) moves to a small town, where she just doesn’t fit in. BUT she was totally ok with it, she’d rather just be herself. I got that. I LOVED that.
So, of course, sweet boy meets different girl and falls all kind of in love. AND THEN… the crazy **** happens!
I loved Amma, the boy’s family’s domestic help. I LOVED her and her parental scary southern ways. HAHA. She was just like any observant memaw oughtta be. Plus a little something extra for spite. hehe…
My favorite character out of this entire story was Macon. Such a fun character. In my mind, I totally saw Jim Carey (in character in Lemony Snicket) for Macon. I don’t know why, but I did. Sweet, and silly, and scary, and quirky. And I loved him for it.
Call me crazy, but I want a “prequel” series. One of Macon, growing up! Entire books of him. He. Makes. Me. Happy.
As for the story – awesome.
This is a story about a girl who must choose between being good or being bad (as we all do, I think.). Only in her case, its bad or good FOR REAL. As we get into the story, we learn that she must choose which path because of a curse that was set into motion a hundred or so years ago and has just become “the way it is” for her family. It is Ethan’s love for her that he risks everything to save her.
Being one that really is not fond of “romance” books, I still loved THIS book. I did not like the ending. I mean like on a “personal” level. I will say that. I cried. I do not like crying. I am not THAT girl. bah!
I do have one thing I don’t “get”, and it’s kind of “spoilerish” so don’t read this part if you haven’t read the books.
<—Spoiler—>
If Lena chooses light then all dark casters die, and if she choices dark then all light casters die… Then how is it there are both light AND dark casters from older generations in this book. In theory, wouldn’t one or the other all be dead? Since every time someone turns 16 they have to choose… then every 16th birthday half the family would die off…Or am I combining book one and two in my head? Did that become part of it when it went to 17 moons instead of 16? Ugh, Im so confused now. LOL…
<—END Spoiler—>
In the end I say READ IT. It’s awesome!
FUN STUFF:
MOVIE – This book is listed on IMDB as “in production” but no other details have been released.
BOOK CLUB & READING GUIDES: HERE and a printable from Hatchette: Reading Group Guide
and you can sample the book:
