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readingrobin 's review for:
The Beautiful
by Renée Ahdieh
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
It's been a good while since I've thrust myself into the dark abyss that is young adult vampire fiction. Going into this book, I felt that vampires had been very played out and held very little intrigue, but man, reading this really made me do a 180. It's not that the vampires in this book are totally original. In fact, you really don't see much of their inhuman sides until the climax, except for a few incidental chapters here and there. It's more that this secret society of vampires actually stays, you know, a secret, to our main character. Sure, Celine susses out pretty quickly that they're definitely not human, but the murderer stalking her takes precedence over digging any deeper into it. I do love a girl with priorities. While I know a vampire light vampire book may be a disappointment to some, I think it adds a little bit more mystery, as well as keeps us as in the dark as Celine. I'm willing to wait on a bit of lore as long as this first book sets a good foundation.
Speaking of our main character, I absolutely loved her. I loved that her desire for power was in no way demonized or seen as shallow. She just wanted the respect as any man would get, and never wanted to thrown into a victim's position every again. Her banter with Sebastien is the highlight of their dynamic and, while it does start as a little insta-lovely, it develops into a very satisfying chemistry.
Also, Odette is my favorite side character. I will forever fall at the feet of women who defy gender norms and are also very gay. It's my kryptonite.
I will agree with other reviews saying that the book does have a pacing problem. The first hundred pages or so are a slog to get through, but it really does pick up around the halfway mark if you're willing to commit. The atmospheric writing does help in getting through to the real action, painting New Orleans as the magical, but subtlety foreboding, place that it is. The climax is definitely worth getting to and really goes its hardest to make you want to read the next installment as soon as possible.
Speaking of our main character, I absolutely loved her. I loved that her desire for power was in no way demonized or seen as shallow. She just wanted the respect as any man would get, and never wanted to thrown into a victim's position every again. Her banter with Sebastien is the highlight of their dynamic and, while it does start as a little insta-lovely, it develops into a very satisfying chemistry.
Also, Odette is my favorite side character. I will forever fall at the feet of women who defy gender norms and are also very gay. It's my kryptonite.
I will agree with other reviews saying that the book does have a pacing problem. The first hundred pages or so are a slog to get through, but it really does pick up around the halfway mark if you're willing to commit. The atmospheric writing does help in getting through to the real action, painting New Orleans as the magical, but subtlety foreboding, place that it is. The climax is definitely worth getting to and really goes its hardest to make you want to read the next installment as soon as possible.