Slow starter with great ending

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This was my first time reading a book by Renée Ahdieh, and it won’t be my last. I was immediately hooked by the premise of the book, which follows a young woman as she flees to New Orleans from Paris. The promise of romance, mystery, and the supernatural sealed the deal for me.

While I went in very excited to read this one, it did take me a little bit to become invested in the story due to a somewhat slow start, overly formal/stiff language (which could be attributed to who the characters are and the time period), and third person POV. However, once the momentum picked up, I was interested again. It’s a slow-burn romance meets whodunnit (ish) that really shone in the last third of the book.

I enjoyed the diverse cast of characters and New Orleans setting. I prefer a strong romantic subplot, and while I would’ve preferred a little less slow burn between Celine and Bastien, I’m curious to see how things progress in the next book.

Overall, this was an enjoyable, character-driven read that started off a little slow but ended up capturing my interest; it just wasn’t my favorite. I look forward to reading The Damned, and if it keeps the momentum The Beautiful had toward the end, it’s sure to be a great read.