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laelyn's review against another edition
2.0
I have seen so many good things written about Renée Ahdieh and her beautiful writing and books, so of course I was excited to dive into her work and see what's there. This will not be a very long review because the one big thing that became very clear to me basically the second I started "The Beautiful" ist that I understand why Ahdieh has her fans, but she is not the author for me.
The prose is very, and I mean VERY purple all throughout, and I don't mind a good dose of purple actually, I quite enjoy it. But here, I couldn't even really follow the plot because the writing was distracting and felt, to me, like an example of "trying way too hard to make the writing seem grandiose and elegant" while failing at it. It's not organic, it doesn't serve the story.
The story in this is rather minimal to begin with. There really isn't that much happening, especially in the first half. Add to that my distaste for genuinely every single character - including our protagonist Céline, whose personality consists mostly of being appalled by the injustices and inegality women have to face on about every page because she has the morals of the 21st century while living in the 19th (which, admittedly, she shares with way too many ya historical/historical fantasy protagonists) and acts SO REBELLIOUS because of it. The side characters are barely characters, and the love interest wants to be an alluring bad boy character so badly but he really isn't. The romance lacks a good foundation and actual chemistry.
Basically, I didn't care at all about anyone and anything which disappointed me so much because the premise of this book is so good, actually: 19th century New Orleans and vampires is a delicious combination. But nothing worked for me and I was bored most of the time, starting to skim early on but trying my best to get through it because I WANTED it to get better and wow me.
But as I said, I'm not the target audience and the author's general writing style just doesn't work for me. I cannot give this more than 2 stars, but I did like the setting at least so there's that.
The prose is very, and I mean VERY purple all throughout, and I don't mind a good dose of purple actually, I quite enjoy it. But here, I couldn't even really follow the plot because the writing was distracting and felt, to me, like an example of "trying way too hard to make the writing seem grandiose and elegant" while failing at it. It's not organic, it doesn't serve the story.
The story in this is rather minimal to begin with. There really isn't that much happening, especially in the first half. Add to that my distaste for genuinely every single character - including our protagonist Céline, whose personality consists mostly of being appalled by the injustices and inegality women have to face on about every page because she has the morals of the 21st century while living in the 19th (which, admittedly, she shares with way too many ya historical/historical fantasy protagonists) and acts SO REBELLIOUS because of it. The side characters are barely characters, and the love interest wants to be an alluring bad boy character so badly but he really isn't. The romance lacks a good foundation and actual chemistry.
Basically, I didn't care at all about anyone and anything which disappointed me so much because the premise of this book is so good, actually: 19th century New Orleans and vampires is a delicious combination. But nothing worked for me and I was bored most of the time, starting to skim early on but trying my best to get through it because I WANTED it to get better and wow me.
But as I said, I'm not the target audience and the author's general writing style just doesn't work for me. I cannot give this more than 2 stars, but I did like the setting at least so there's that.
curlyc90's review
4.0
Took me back to 2008 when I was obsessed with vampires and werewolves. Who wasn’t? Lol
This was a great book lots of world building and I loved the main character’s modern mindset. Even so at times she irked me. I’m guessing there may be a book two judging from the ending? So I’d like to see how this continues.
This was a great book lots of world building and I loved the main character’s modern mindset. Even so at times she irked me. I’m guessing there may be a book two judging from the ending? So I’d like to see how this continues.
madelinekramer2021's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
mkoehn's review
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
olivegrove's review
2.0
When I first learned about this book I was ALL FOR IT. Sexy vampires in New Orleans? Ummm yes... I am HERE for a revival in vampire romance. I absolutely loved The Vampire Diaries and The Originals so I thought I would really enjoy this book. It was definitely one of my most anticipated reads. Sadly, it was a huge disappointment. The characters were just... flat. There wasn’t any character development, it was tropey as hell, and the villain/entire plot just wasn’t that good. I don’t even mind tropey or overdone stories if they are written well (like Red Queen), but this was not. The book doesn’t even use the word vampire until the very end and even then it was the lamest reveal possibly ever. Other than Celine having an Asian mother, liking to sow and being a ~murderess~ there was absolutely nothing to her. Sebastian was even worse. Just broody and not at all interesting. The whole book was just bits and pieces of other vampire novels put together... and poorly at that. It was just building up to the second book which, quite frankly, I would have been more apt to pick up if there was any action that made sense or was somewhat interesting, any at all, in this book.
thereadernthebeast's review
3.0
Antes había leído a la autora, así que empecé estas páginas ya enamorada de su pluma. Nunca imaginé que me decepcionaría más que mi ex.
La escritura es bonita, eso se lo concedo; pero los personajes son planos y la trama se balancea entre absurda y aburrida.
Quería obsesionarme con Bastian, encontrar en él un nuevo crush... pero, no sucedió. Tenía todos los elementos para gustarme y sin embargo, no funcionó.
Celine ni siquiera me resultó prometedora, desde el principio la identifiqué como un mal necesario y poco más.
Sin embargo, fue leer al antagonista: lo mejor y lo peor de la historia, tan intrigante y a la vez tan mal llevado.
Aún así, tengo fe en que la 2da entrega redima esta dolorosa serie de afrontas... es solo el 1er libro, puede permitirse tres estrellas.
•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°
I had read the author before, so I started these pages already in love with her writing. I never imagined that she would disappoint me more than my ex.
The writing is pretty, I'll give her that; but the characters are flat and the plot swings between absurd and boring.
I wanted to become obsessed with Bastian, find a new crush in him... but it didn't happen. It had all the elements to be great and yet it didn't work.
Celine was not even promising from the start, I always identified her as a necessary evil and just that.
However, it was reading the antagonist: the best and the worst of the story, so intriguing and at the same time, so badly managed.
Still, I have faith that the 2nd book will redeem this painful series of inconveniences... This's only the 1st one, it can afford the 3☆ rating.
La escritura es bonita, eso se lo concedo; pero los personajes son planos y la trama se balancea entre absurda y aburrida.
Quería obsesionarme con Bastian, encontrar en él un nuevo crush... pero, no sucedió. Tenía todos los elementos para gustarme y sin embargo, no funcionó.
Celine ni siquiera me resultó prometedora, desde el principio la identifiqué como un mal necesario y poco más.
Sin embargo, fue leer al antagonista: lo mejor y lo peor de la historia, tan intrigante y a la vez tan mal llevado.
Aún así, tengo fe en que la 2da entrega redima esta dolorosa serie de afrontas... es solo el 1er libro, puede permitirse tres estrellas.
•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°
I had read the author before, so I started these pages already in love with her writing. I never imagined that she would disappoint me more than my ex.
The writing is pretty, I'll give her that; but the characters are flat and the plot swings between absurd and boring.
I wanted to become obsessed with Bastian, find a new crush in him... but it didn't happen. It had all the elements to be great and yet it didn't work.
Celine was not even promising from the start, I always identified her as a necessary evil and just that.
However, it was reading the antagonist: the best and the worst of the story, so intriguing and at the same time, so badly managed.
Still, I have faith that the 2nd book will redeem this painful series of inconveniences... This's only the 1st one, it can afford the 3☆ rating.
marieintheraw's review
3.0
Okay, I officially need to just accept that Renee Ahdieh's writing just isn't for me.
brianne_k's review
3.0
*3/5*
I guess this has potential.. but it just didn't do it for me. It didn't read like the time period it was set in.. and I wanted more vampires. I was so excited to get a new vampire novel. Perhaps book 2 will be better.
I guess this has potential.. but it just didn't do it for me. It didn't read like the time period it was set in.. and I wanted more vampires. I was so excited to get a new vampire novel. Perhaps book 2 will be better.