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se_wigget's review against another edition
3.0
This is a young adult supernatural romance, the same subgenre as Twilight, but it is better than Twilight. The writing is lively, the characters are sparkling with life, the love interest Lena is a strong female character who, unlike Bella, is a strong individual and doesn’t fit in with creepy patriarchal values. The book is from the first-person perspective of Ethan, a high school boy who is anxious to escape his boring, small-minded small town in the Deep South. The town becomes much more interesting when Lena, a teen with magic powers, moves in with her uncle the town recluse and shows up for class. She quickly stirs things up in the closed-minded community.
My only complaint, besides a couple of dangling modifiers, is that the book includes a few fatphobic comments directed at one female student, something teens most emphatically do not need to read and that furthermore indicates that the authors should read body positive books.
Overall, the book is full of rich detail, magic, and suspense. The characters are complex and sympathetic and come vividly to life. Since the book has two authors, no doubt they gave each other feedback. This is for anyone who enjoys dark fantasy.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia
sweettartdemon's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Bullying, Car accident, Death, Death of parent, Body shaming, and Fatphobia
smass10's review against another edition
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
This would be rated higher but the constant misogyny had my eyes rolling into my skull!!!!!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny
Moderate: Fatphobia
lectricefeministe's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
2.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Colonisation, Gaslighting, Sexism, Car accident, Death of parent, Racism, Body shaming, Fatphobia, Bullying, Grief, and Dementia
gotbookcitement's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The Magical Readathon Orilium Gear Up: Conduit Prompt
BOOKCITEMENT LEVEL 4/5
Look at me, finally reading a book from my own bookshelf. The shock!
This was a nostalgic read for me because it really reminded me of what Booktube/Book Social Media was like when I joined it. This was the kind of book that was coming out during that time. I enjoyed it. I'm kind of sad that a bunch of books like this aren't still coming out. I love a paranormal story.
I really enjoyed the atmosphere of this. I really liked reading about this small, southern town. A town that really embraces aspects of it's past, even though that past doesn't put them in the best light in the present.
I liked getting the story from Ethan's POV instead of Lena's. I also liked that what Lena and her family were was different then the usual paranormal book.
There were things about this that was very predictable, but I was okay with that.
I will say, this book was too long for what it needed to be. Some things could have been cut. It was also pretty melodramatic with Ethan and Lena's young love. Ethan did accept some of the magic stuff pretty nonchalantly, which I didn't find the most believable. I also don't think Ethan and Lena reading each others' thoughts was really necessary, it just felt a little much.
This also had no real ending, just a big TO BE CONTINUED. It's like Lena's whole thing really doesn't end, it just gets pushed to another book. There was also no real resolution between Ethan and his dad, I feel like they at least needed a good talk between them.
I'm excited to continue on with the series, see what happens next.
BOOKCITEMENT LEVEL 4/5
Look at me, finally reading a book from my own bookshelf. The shock!
This was a nostalgic read for me because it really reminded me of what Booktube/Book Social Media was like when I joined it. This was the kind of book that was coming out during that time. I enjoyed it. I'm kind of sad that a bunch of books like this aren't still coming out. I love a paranormal story.
I really enjoyed the atmosphere of this. I really liked reading about this small, southern town. A town that really embraces aspects of it's past, even though that past doesn't put them in the best light in the present.
I liked getting the story from Ethan's POV instead of Lena's. I also liked that what Lena and her family were was different then the usual paranormal book.
There were things about this that was very predictable, but I was okay with that.
I will say, this book was too long for what it needed to be. Some things could have been cut. It was also pretty melodramatic with Ethan and Lena's young love. Ethan did accept some of the magic stuff pretty nonchalantly, which I didn't find the most believable. I also don't think Ethan and Lena reading each others' thoughts was really necessary, it just felt a little much.
This also had no real ending, just a big TO BE CONTINUED. It's like Lena's whole thing really doesn't end, it just gets pushed to another book. There was also no real resolution between Ethan and his dad, I feel like they at least needed a good talk between them.
I'm excited to continue on with the series, see what happens next.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Fatphobia, and Car accident
queer_bookwyrm's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
3 ⭐ CW: Death of a parent, Civil War referred to as "War of Northern Aggression", fatphobia, bullying, burning plantation homes with people inside, violence, death of a pet
Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl was part of a series my cousin sent me second hand. I enjoyed the premise of this novel, but it definitely could have been better.
We follow Ethan Wate, a local jock in Gatlin, NC, where nothing ever changes, until the niece of owner of Ravenwood Manor moves to town, things change quickly. So we have a love story between a Caster and Mortal. Lena Duchannes doesn't fit the Gatlin mold, and in turn is bullied and tormented. Even the parents get involved in scheming a way to get her kicked out of school.
The magic in this was interesting. I love the concept of the Kitchen in Ravenwood being an entity on its own. It was cool to learn about the different abilities every Caster has. We learn that on the 16th birthday, Casters are claimed as Light or Dark, only Lena's family doesn't get that choice. Ultimately this is a book about choosing and making your own fate. We also get love as strength in the face of evil.
Even I did for the most part enjoy this book, it did have its problems. For example, in a book based in a Southern town that has old plantation homes, and still says the "war between the states", and not once was slavery mentioned. On top of that we have a token person of color who is used as a the magical and wise plot device, and she is described as looking "exotic" (ick). There is also a ton of fatphobia in this book. I know it came out in 2009, but damn, it was unnecessary.
I will probably try the next book to see if it improves enough for me to want to finish the series. If not, I may dnf it.
Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl was part of a series my cousin sent me second hand. I enjoyed the premise of this novel, but it definitely could have been better.
We follow Ethan Wate, a local jock in Gatlin, NC, where nothing ever changes, until the niece of owner of Ravenwood Manor moves to town, things change quickly. So we have a love story between a Caster and Mortal. Lena Duchannes doesn't fit the Gatlin mold, and in turn is bullied and tormented. Even the parents get involved in scheming a way to get her kicked out of school.
The magic in this was interesting. I love the concept of the Kitchen in Ravenwood being an entity on its own. It was cool to learn about the different abilities every Caster has. We learn that on the 16th birthday, Casters are claimed as Light or Dark, only Lena's family doesn't get that choice. Ultimately this is a book about choosing and making your own fate. We also get love as strength in the face of evil.
Even I did for the most part enjoy this book, it did have its problems. For example, in a book based in a Southern town that has old plantation homes, and still says the "war between the states", and not once was slavery mentioned. On top of that we have a token person of color who is used as a the magical and wise plot device, and she is described as looking "exotic" (ick). There is also a ton of fatphobia in this book. I know it came out in 2009, but damn, it was unnecessary.
I will probably try the next book to see if it improves enough for me to want to finish the series. If not, I may dnf it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia and Bullying
Moderate: Death of parent, Violence, Death, and Animal death
brookey8888's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
3.5 or 3.75
I changed this from a 4 to a 3.
This is pretty good, but it’s so long for no reason and it’s kind of really boring at times. The concept is good. I don’t care about the love story like I found them so boring. Ethan is funny at times. My favorite part of this is honestly the side characters and the small town vibes. I think it’s time for me to finally part with owning this.
I changed this from a 4 to a 3.
This is pretty good, but it’s so long for no reason and it’s kind of really boring at times. The concept is good. I don’t care about the love story like I found them so boring. Ethan is funny at times. My favorite part of this is honestly the side characters and the small town vibes. I think it’s time for me to finally part with owning this.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Animal cruelty, Toxic friendship, Bullying, Body shaming, Car accident, Racism, Death, Death of parent, Fatphobia, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, and Violence
sifwithagun's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism, Slavery, Bullying, and Fatphobia
Minor: Death of parent and Religious bigotry
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