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melongin's review
dark
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
sleepydoe's review
4.0
It was a refreshing step back into reading Young Adult Fantasy. I like how the Casters' powers worked although the whole "bringing someone back from the dead" part seemed like stretching the chord a bit too far. Nonetheless, it was a really fun read and would definitely recommend it to anyone looking for some nice sweet romance laced with magic and mystery.
krissysbooked's review
5.0
I loved this series. Great characterisation with a fabulously strong story line that easily fills all four books without feeling like it's dragging on. No matter if you're a teen or adult you can get into this story as it is something that crosses all ages. I'd recommend it to everyone.
charliechan21's review
2.0
It's taken me nearly a year to read these books as they were not very gripping and I kept getting distracted by other better books. Premise is good but execution is poor.
lindaunconventionalbookworms's review
5.0
Such a beautiful, wonderous story! I want to learn a lot more about Ethan and Lena! And I really like how they stuck together, no matter what.
aubreysmith9412's review
2.0
This book was... meh. Just meh. I didn't like it, but I didn't dislike it.
Overall, the tone was incredibly angsty and melodramatic, with many of the same problems occurring time and time again without resolution. That kind of redudancy got real old, real fast.
The whole Gatlin being super insular and exclusive thing is something that resonated with me. I lived for a time in a city similar to Gatlin - unless you're born and raised there, you're not welcome. However, where I lived was less fire and brimstone, and more mild hostility.
The town ganging up on Lena also got old fast. Teenagers repeating the hatred of their parents is a common trope in the South. I knew that going into the book. Didn't make it any less annoying.
I did like the magical realism, though. The idea of Casters each having their own specialty, and using those specialties was really fascinating to watch. However, watching Lena being pulled in all directions because her family kept secrets from her was, again, rather annoying.
Overall, this book was meh. I was interested enough to keep going with it, but I'm in no rush to get to the second book.
Things will definitely be different in Book 2, but we're still dealing with melodramatic teenagers. And I'm really in no rush for that.
Overall, the tone was incredibly angsty and melodramatic, with many of the same problems occurring time and time again without resolution. That kind of redudancy got real old, real fast.
The whole Gatlin being super insular and exclusive thing is something that resonated with me. I lived for a time in a city similar to Gatlin - unless you're born and raised there, you're not welcome. However, where I lived was less fire and brimstone, and more mild hostility.
The town ganging up on Lena also got old fast. Teenagers repeating the hatred of their parents is a common trope in the South. I knew that going into the book. Didn't make it any less annoying.
I did like the magical realism, though. The idea of Casters each having their own specialty, and using those specialties was really fascinating to watch. However, watching Lena being pulled in all directions because her family kept secrets from her was, again, rather annoying.
Overall, this book was meh. I was interested enough to keep going with it, but I'm in no rush to get to the second book.
Things will definitely be different in Book 2, but we're still dealing with melodramatic teenagers. And I'm really in no rush for that.
reviewsmayvary's review
3.0
Ok. done. I liked a lot of things about the story. But by the end I just wanted it to be over. I think the movie trailer actually looks more interesting than the book turned out to be.
When I started it: Damn it! I think I've started this one before. But why didn't I finish it?! Did I hate it? Was it due back to the library? Urgh!
http://bookedupandbossy.blogspot.com/2015/05/book-in-progress-beautiful-creatures.html
When I started it: Damn it! I think I've started this one before. But why didn't I finish it?! Did I hate it? Was it due back to the library? Urgh!
http://bookedupandbossy.blogspot.com/2015/05/book-in-progress-beautiful-creatures.html
shutupnread's review
3.0
If I had one word to describe this novel, it would be long. 600 pages seemed too much for me. It easily could have been shortened because there were a lot of scenes in Beautiful Creatures that seemed incredibly drawn out.
Even though it was incredibly long, the pacing was actually quite good. It didn't seem like it was rushed or anything. I just feel that some parts could have been cut.
Beautiful Creatures was mainly a romance between Lena and Ethan. However, there were a lot of times when it seemed unrealistic and unbelievable. I felt like it was a rush because technically, he's in love with her even before he actually met her. It just felt so unrealistic.
One thing I found Beautiful Creatures different from other novels was that this was written in the perspective of the guy rather than the girl that is so commonly found in YA novels. It was nice to see a change and it was interesting to see how Ethan really felt towards Lena, making it delightfully sweet and cute.
The paranormal element in Beautiful Creatures was fascinating. Actually, before I read this book, I couldn't figure out what it was about exactly. I just liked the cover and the summary somehow made it seem somewhat interesting. So I picked it up. And I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Overall, Beautiful Creatures was a compelling novel. It had nice characterization, the paranormal elements were excellent, the romance was sweet but unrealistic at times. Though it was incredibly long, I am still somewhat interested in seeing what would happen next in the sequel.
Even though it was incredibly long, the pacing was actually quite good. It didn't seem like it was rushed or anything. I just feel that some parts could have been cut.
Beautiful Creatures was mainly a romance between Lena and Ethan. However, there were a lot of times when it seemed unrealistic and unbelievable. I felt like it was a rush because technically, he's in love with her even before he actually met her. It just felt so unrealistic.
One thing I found Beautiful Creatures different from other novels was that this was written in the perspective of the guy rather than the girl that is so commonly found in YA novels. It was nice to see a change and it was interesting to see how Ethan really felt towards Lena, making it delightfully sweet and cute.
The paranormal element in Beautiful Creatures was fascinating. Actually, before I read this book, I couldn't figure out what it was about exactly. I just liked the cover and the summary somehow made it seem somewhat interesting. So I picked it up. And I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Overall, Beautiful Creatures was a compelling novel. It had nice characterization, the paranormal elements were excellent, the romance was sweet but unrealistic at times. Though it was incredibly long, I am still somewhat interested in seeing what would happen next in the sequel.
kellyhager's review
5.0
This book is a mix of two of my recent favorite genres--paranormal YA and gothic fiction.
It's set in the south, a town called Gatlin. (There are not corn children and He Who Walks Behind the Rows does not appear.)
Ethan has been having a lot of weird dreams lately--he's trying to save a girl he loves (who he has only seen in these dreams) and failing. When he wakes up, there's generally a ton of dirt in his bed.
A new girl shows up on the first day of his sophomore year and it's the girl from his dreams. And things get weirder from there.
Such a fantastic book.
It's set in the south, a town called Gatlin. (There are not corn children and He Who Walks Behind the Rows does not appear.)
Ethan has been having a lot of weird dreams lately--he's trying to save a girl he loves (who he has only seen in these dreams) and failing. When he wakes up, there's generally a ton of dirt in his bed.
A new girl shows up on the first day of his sophomore year and it's the girl from his dreams. And things get weirder from there.
Such a fantastic book.
katekat's review
4.0
Beautiful Creatures was an amazing book, unfortunately the rest of the series and the movie version were not nearly as good but this book can be read on its own and its great. The premise of the story and the characters themselves are clever and well written.