Book: Beautiful Creatures
Authors: Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl
Release date: December 1st, 2009
Pages: 576
Source: Bought
Summary:
Lena Duchannes is unlike anyone the small Southern town of Gatlin has ever seen, and she's struggling to conceal her power and a curse that has haunted her family for generations. But even within the overgrown gardens, murky swamps, and crumbling graveyards of the forgotten South, a secret cannot stay hidden forever.
Ethan Wate, who has been counting the months until he can escape from Gatlin, is haunted by dreams of a beautiful girl he has never met. When Lena moves into the town's oldest and most infamous plantation, Ethan is inexplicably drawn to her and determined to uncover the connection between them.
In a town with no surprises, one secret could change everything.
Review: Beautiful Creatures is a lovely debut, and a great example of two authors working together almost seamlessly.
Ethan's voice is very impressive, and I'm in shock at how well Stohl and Garcia write together. At times I almost forgot that two authors even wrote BC.
The story all starts when Lena moves to town, but it doesn't really get going until Lena and Ethan start hanging out and slowly become friends. Everything gets interesting when the town is gunning for her, and when Lena's relatives come to pay her a visit (like the fabulously devilish cousin Ridley, who creates quite the chaos). The characters were fresh, vivid, and memorable, even the side characters.
Nothing is given away too early, the pacing kept me eager to read more, curious enough to want to read all day. Beautiful Creatures is one of those books that will suck you in and keep you turning the pages hour after hour, wanting to just get one more chapter in.
Highlights: The events leading up to the ending were incredible. The twists and turns, I loved being surprised. I also really enjoyed all of the moments at Ravenwood, with Macon (the town shut-in and Lena's uncle).
Lowlights: It has a bit of a slow start. At times I really felt the book's length and my thoughts would wander. I love a big book (I consider the Harry Potter books to be absolute heaven), but this one felt so long to me. The ending wasn't entirely satisfying, but thankfully, there is a sequel to look forward to.
Rating: 
