Simply amazing

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Renée Ahdieh's The Beautiful just knocked Twilight out the window. It was so much better than that. When I first heard about this book I was super excited because it seems like authors dont really write about vampires anymore. I honestly couldn't wait to read it. A little part of me was kinda nervous about it because I thought I would end up being like Twilight again. So I did have my expectations going into this but man she surpasse mine to be honest.


Before I read this I had never heard of Renée Ahdieh so I dont know anything about her other books but I really loved this book. I thought the world building was so amazing. She a great job at creating a 1800s New Orleans world. It had the perfect amount of darkness and mystery especially around La Cour des Lions. The entire time I was reading I was dying to know more about them and what they were all about. Renée doesnt just simple flaunt the vampires around as soon as you start reading. It takes over half the book before someone actually mentions one which I actually didnt mind at all. I thought It was a nice little change at least for me anyway. Before that most of the book is left in a mystery of you trying to figure out what's what. I didnt expect some of surprise twist and turns in this book some of them just left me kinda speechless. She did an amazing job at placing them at the right moments. Ah I just loved it so much!


Celine was such a great character. I truly adored and loved her especially considering this took place in 1875. She didnt confine to the normal standards that women had to go through back then. She done what she want when she wanted. She had a sharp tongue, quick wit, and didn't take any crap from anyone. She was ready to start her life over after the events that happened in Paris. Once she got to New Orleans she meets Bastien and it's undoubtedly obvious that they are attracted to each other (I must say I swooned hardcore over them together lol). But Bastien's secrets that he can't share infuriates her to no end.Oddette was a great character as well I know she was just a secondary character but she essential to the story. She is just as witty as Celine if not a little worse. I liked that she was openly gay since that was seriously frowned upon back then.


You actually have different POVs in book most of it is Celine but some are Bastien. I actually wasnt expecting that when I was reading. When I first read one of his chapters I got a little confused but quickly realized what was happening. I think they should have put the names of the character somewhere to let you know who you was reading as. I really loved the characters growth in this story. I also really hope that she explains some things in the second book because there was some stuff that I still have some questions about. The ending just absolutely killed me. It made me so upset. I can't wait to see what shes gonna do in the next book. I have to mention the covers for both books because they're both absolutely stunning.