First, I'll begin by saying that I am absolutely ready for vampires to become mainstream again. Maybe it's because I really got into YA fiction in the vampire era, or maybe I just really enjoy demonic beings who get their kicks on the blood of beautiful, mortal women, but really: bring on the flesh-tearing and blood sucking.
If you're hoping that The Beautiful is going to be Twilight rebooted, then I don't recommend seeking this title out. The fact of the matter is that it really isn't Twilight, and while the romance isn't quite what I would call slow-burn, it does take the better part of the novel to develop (with that being said, the almost-sex scene was quite nice, and I'm excited to see where the relationship goes when the sequel drops in Summer 2020).
The Beautiful opens with the protagonist, Celine Rousseau, on a boat from Paris to New Orleans, Louisiana, and the year is 1872. Even though I tagged this read as historical fiction, let me start by saying that it's very weak historical fiction. For the most part, I'm not even sure why this book was set in this setting other than to make the protagonist and the characters she associates with appear progressive, in that they view men, women, people of color, and LGBTQIA+ characters as equals, a view that, for the time, simply wasn't the norm. Celine boards the boat with the hope of escaping her past in Paris, a past that is deemed difficult and worth escaping, but isn't completely escaped earlier in the novel. Along with six other girls, Celine takes up residence at a local convent, where she will reside until a suitable match or husband has been found for her.
It should be without question that a character who believes women ought to be of equal status with men would not be satisfied with this kind of life, because Celine quickly seeks out the less 'proper' side of New Orleans, through the restaurant called Jacques, and a sort of crowd who Celine only can describe as 'inhuman.' Though Celine's character had her flaws, I really enjoyed her.
"For Celine was every bit the girl in a jewel-toned dress who longed for the love and laughter of an afternoon tea. Just as she was every bit the girl in black, her heart filled with murderous designs, intent on bringing about a killer's demise."
Overall, I loved Celine and I loved New Orleans, which proved the perfect setting for a demonic murder mystery. I'll definitely be awaiting the sequel.
If you're hoping that The Beautiful is going to be Twilight rebooted, then I don't recommend seeking this title out. The fact of the matter is that it really isn't Twilight, and while the romance isn't quite what I would call slow-burn, it does take the better part of the novel to develop (with that being said, the almost-sex scene was quite nice, and I'm excited to see where the relationship goes when the sequel drops in Summer 2020).
The Beautiful opens with the protagonist, Celine Rousseau, on a boat from Paris to New Orleans, Louisiana, and the year is 1872. Even though I tagged this read as historical fiction, let me start by saying that it's very weak historical fiction. For the most part, I'm not even sure why this book was set in this setting other than to make the protagonist and the characters she associates with appear progressive, in that they view men, women, people of color, and LGBTQIA+ characters as equals, a view that, for the time, simply wasn't the norm. Celine boards the boat with the hope of escaping her past in Paris, a past that is deemed difficult and worth escaping, but isn't completely escaped earlier in the novel. Along with six other girls, Celine takes up residence at a local convent, where she will reside until a suitable match or husband has been found for her.
It should be without question that a character who believes women ought to be of equal status with men would not be satisfied with this kind of life, because Celine quickly seeks out the less 'proper' side of New Orleans, through the restaurant called Jacques, and a sort of crowd who Celine only can describe as 'inhuman.' Though Celine's character had her flaws, I really enjoyed her.
"For Celine was every bit the girl in a jewel-toned dress who longed for the love and laughter of an afternoon tea. Just as she was every bit the girl in black, her heart filled with murderous designs, intent on bringing about a killer's demise."
Overall, I loved Celine and I loved New Orleans, which proved the perfect setting for a demonic murder mystery. I'll definitely be awaiting the sequel.