A review by ehmannky
The Beautiful Ones by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

adventurous emotional hopeful fast-paced
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Romantic, fantastic, and wonderful. Silvia Moreno-Garcia is a master of the slow-burn romance, and I could not put it down.  was surprised the supernatural elements were so subdued, but I think that was only to the story's benefit and not a detraction from the plot, which is primarily character-driven. I loved Nina (I'm always a sucker for plucky, entomologically-inclined heroines) and Hector (even if, in real life, I would be predisposed to cause Hector grievous harm for the shit he pulls in part one), and I found their chemistry incredibly compelling and lovely. I am just predisposed to love a girl with entomological taste with a heart of gold. And I have not hated female character the way I hated Valérie in quite some time, which is a feat because I takes quite a bit to get me to dislike most female characters. But her malice just made this alternate Belle Époque that much more wonderful. I just loved the framing of a healthy love as something that opens you up to others and others, instead of consuming you and closing you off from others. 
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