A review by daffodils_and_books
The Beautiful Maddening by Shea Ernshaw

emotional mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

The Beautiful Maddening has a fitting title for such a poetic story. It is a coming of age story for an outcast girl grappling with a curse and protecting her heart. It has a very gothic feel in a contemporary setting. I loved that it takes place in the PNW. Cutwater feels just like home to me and I empathized with Lark’s experiences. There were times that the story felt slow but once it hit its climax, the plot sped up. This is a great choice for teen readers. 

Thank you to NetGalley, Shea Ernshaw, and Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing for supplying me with this advanced reader copy of The Beautiful Maddening.