Review: Beautiful Creatures by Margaret Stohl & Kami Garcia

Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Released: Dec 1 2009

Hardcover, 576 pages

ISBN: 978-0316042673



Recommended for: YA paranormal romance lovers

Teaser quote:

"There seemed to be nothing too unbelievable for this Gatlin. It's funny how you can live somewhere your whole life, but not really see it."
(pg 221, ISBN 978-0316042673)

My rating: 4.5/5

My thoughts:

In the small southern town of Gatlin, nothing really happens. Everyone knows everyone, you are born there and you die there. Ethan's whole world changes when a new girl, Lena, comes to town to live with her uncle...he recognizes her as the girl from his dreams. There is no way to avoid the connection they have and life in Gatlin becomes much more interesting as secrets surface, powers are developed and they uncover details of the curse haunting her family.

This is one book I had been dying to read, so I must admit I came in with high expectations. The story is told from the perspective of a guy, Ethan which was a refreshing change - I had to laugh as I changed the voice in my head as I read. I loved the dichotomy used throughout: old vs. new, popular vs. outcast, good vs. evil, destiny vs. free will. The one thing I wished for was more of a connection with Ethan & Lena. I found that the history & struggle to accept or change one's destiny left me feeling like I missed out on a bit of the romantic connection. The plot contains so many twists and turns that it keeps one guessing what could happen next. The ending was phenomenal and, although the book is almost 600 pages, it leaves the reader wishing for more. I eagerly await the next book in the series due out next year!

Recently announced: Warner Bros. has picked up film rights to Beautiful Creatures. Congrats Kami & Margie!

Teaser Tuesday - December 8, 2009

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

- Grab your current read
- Open to a random page
- Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
- BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
- Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl

"It had made sense when a beautiful girl was saying it. Now that I was back home, alone, in my own bed, I was finally losing it. Even Link wouldn't beleive any of this." (pg 194)

"Waiting on" Wednesday - November 11, 2009

This weekly event is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

I can't wait for Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl


Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Release Date: December 1, 2009 (though I understand amazon.com is shipping now & some stores have it on the shelves already!!!)

Synopsis:

There were no surprises in Gatlin County.
We were pretty much the epicenter of the middle of nowhere.
At least, that's what I thought.
Turns out, I couldn't have been more wrong.
There was a curse.
There was a girl.
And in the end, there was a grave.

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.