Status
Available
Call number
Publication
Little, Brown and Company
Pages
563
Description
In a small South Carolina town, where it seems little has changed since the Civil War, sixteen-year-old Ethan is powerfully drawn to Lena, a new classmate with whom he shares a psychic connection and whose family hides a dark secret that may be revealed on her sixteenth birthday.
Description
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.
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.
Series
Collection
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2009-12-01
Physical description
563 p.; 8.25 inches
ISBN
9780316127455
Similar in this library
Media reviews
The intensity of Ethan and Lena's need to be together is palpable, the detailed descriptions create a vivid, authentic world, and the allure of this story is the power of love. The satisfying conclusion is sure to lead directly into a sequel. Give this to fans of Stephenie Meyer's "Twilight"
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(Little, Brown, 2005) or HBO's "True Blood" series and they will devour all 600-plus pages of this teen Gothic romance. Show Less
Booklist
The 600-plus pages could have been cut to make a tighter, better story. Despite the bulk, there’s plenty teens will like: romance, magic, hauntings, and the promise of more to come.
Lexile
670L
User reviews
LibraryThing member bookgal123
This book has a couple of issues. I thought the characters were flat and the plotting was static, not to mention the constant (and I do mean constant) reminders that Gatlin was a boring town where nothing ever happened. I guess the writers skipped the "show, don't tell" day in creative writing. In
The end of the book suggested an opening for a sequel. Should one materialize, I will be most definitely taking a pass.
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spite of all of this, I did like the way the magic functioned in this world and the writers did occasionally manage to convey a good, gothic-South tone. However, this book had one fatal flaw. It was waaaaaaaay tooooooooooo looooooooooooooong. By the time I finally got to the end of this apparently editor-less book, I could care less about any of the characters or what happened to them. The end of the book suggested an opening for a sequel. Should one materialize, I will be most definitely taking a pass.
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LibraryThing member aprillee
Ethan Wate is from a small town in the south and he is gradually feeling suffocated by it all. While he goes through the motions at high school, playing on the basketball team, hanging out with his best friend, he cannot wait until he's old enough to get away--to see new places and things. In small
Ethan thinks nothing will ever change, but then suddenly, everything changes. A new girl, a rare occurrence in Gatlin, is attending his school. Anyone who is not from Gaitlin is viewed as an outsider, but Lena Duchannes, even though her uncle is from one of Gatlin's oldest families, is the kind of girl who never fits in anywhere. She is bound to be an outcast in school, scorned and teased. But Ethan knows she is the girl from his dreams. Now he must decide whether he will take the chance to be outcast too, in his pursuit to get to know her.
And there is magic, mystery and death, too. The dreams and nightmares are just the beginning. Lena's old, eccentric family are much more than just the kind of things people in small towns love to gossip about. There is an old curse and a tragic love that begins to haunt both Lena and Ethan. And a time approaches when a deadly choice will have to be made that will affect them both.
This book was absolutely fantastic. I could tell from the first page--I just wanted to curl up with it and dive in and stay there for as long as I possibly could. I am long past my high school years, but Ethan's situation was one that anyone with any sensibility at all could understand and empathize with. He narrates in the first person with a unique voice that is both an everyman (or boy, rather) and yet a distinct personality. Through his thoughts and views, everything was fascinating--from negotiating the routine of getting to class on time and avoiding the pitfalls of antagonizing cliques and friends and teachers and relatives, to spending time with aged relatives, to the most strangely supernatural events--I could follow him anywhere and endlessly. (I hope he continues as narrator if there are sequels. He truly does have one of the most memorable and engaging voices I've come across in years.)
Lena, also, is a great character. Very human and sympathetic, and as the "strange girl," manages to avoid stereotypes. She isn't goth, isn't all that rebellious or independent; she is herself, and still troubled by her past and her future,but trying hard not to be (the same as Ethan). There are no vampires or werewolves, but plenty of magical beings just the same. And just what is it about the whole Southern Gothic thing? Whatever it is, it works here. The feeling is modern, but there's a lot of the past hanging about and along with it, a sense that things beyond the everyday are always there, just lurking around the corner. It is a setting that narrows the suspension of disbelief like it was nothing, creating the perfect atmosphere for such a story as this.
While I dip into YA now and then, it's not what I primarily like to read, but this book felt as if it could be read and enjoyed by nearly anyone. Yes, I do feel it transcends the genre and the age group. The writing was gorgeous, the story moving and utterly fascinating in all respects, the characters wonderful... I am running out of superlatives, I know, but whatever... I have read, literally, thousands of books, and this is definitely among the favorites.
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Gatlin, South Carolina, nothing ever changes. People stay and live in their assigned roles. Re-enactors fight the local battles of the Civil War over and over again. It doesn't help that Ethan is missing his mother, an "outsider" to Gatlin, who was killed in a car crash the year before, nor that his father, a writer, has retreated to his study and rarely comes out. He also has been plagued by nightmares of a strange girl he is trying to save, but never does.Ethan thinks nothing will ever change, but then suddenly, everything changes. A new girl, a rare occurrence in Gatlin, is attending his school. Anyone who is not from Gaitlin is viewed as an outsider, but Lena Duchannes, even though her uncle is from one of Gatlin's oldest families, is the kind of girl who never fits in anywhere. She is bound to be an outcast in school, scorned and teased. But Ethan knows she is the girl from his dreams. Now he must decide whether he will take the chance to be outcast too, in his pursuit to get to know her.
And there is magic, mystery and death, too. The dreams and nightmares are just the beginning. Lena's old, eccentric family are much more than just the kind of things people in small towns love to gossip about. There is an old curse and a tragic love that begins to haunt both Lena and Ethan. And a time approaches when a deadly choice will have to be made that will affect them both.
This book was absolutely fantastic. I could tell from the first page--I just wanted to curl up with it and dive in and stay there for as long as I possibly could. I am long past my high school years, but Ethan's situation was one that anyone with any sensibility at all could understand and empathize with. He narrates in the first person with a unique voice that is both an everyman (or boy, rather) and yet a distinct personality. Through his thoughts and views, everything was fascinating--from negotiating the routine of getting to class on time and avoiding the pitfalls of antagonizing cliques and friends and teachers and relatives, to spending time with aged relatives, to the most strangely supernatural events--I could follow him anywhere and endlessly. (I hope he continues as narrator if there are sequels. He truly does have one of the most memorable and engaging voices I've come across in years.)
Lena, also, is a great character. Very human and sympathetic, and as the "strange girl," manages to avoid stereotypes. She isn't goth, isn't all that rebellious or independent; she is herself, and still troubled by her past and her future,but trying hard not to be (the same as Ethan). There are no vampires or werewolves, but plenty of magical beings just the same. And just what is it about the whole Southern Gothic thing? Whatever it is, it works here. The feeling is modern, but there's a lot of the past hanging about and along with it, a sense that things beyond the everyday are always there, just lurking around the corner. It is a setting that narrows the suspension of disbelief like it was nothing, creating the perfect atmosphere for such a story as this.
While I dip into YA now and then, it's not what I primarily like to read, but this book felt as if it could be read and enjoyed by nearly anyone. Yes, I do feel it transcends the genre and the age group. The writing was gorgeous, the story moving and utterly fascinating in all respects, the characters wonderful... I am running out of superlatives, I know, but whatever... I have read, literally, thousands of books, and this is definitely among the favorites.
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LibraryThing member wastepaperprose
Beautiful Creatures is a wild ride full of secrets, spellcasters, small-town prejudice, and, of course, romance. Before the end of Chapter 1 I loved it. By the time the action was in full swing I was having heart palpitations. When I finally reached the last page, I found myself itching for more.
Garcia & Stohl have delivered a beautifully crafted southern gothic novel with a unique take on the paranormal set in a small Southern town that makes Mayberry look a little like a metropolis.
As a girl with roots in Virginia and North Carolina, I know my southerners. The behavior, the colloquialisms, the gossip, the kooky traditions, the skepticism and irrational fear of outsiders… Beautiful Creatures has it right, down to my favorite line.
“…Religion and superstition all mixed up, like only it can be in the South.”
It rang so true when I read it that I burst into laughter and didn’t stop smiling for hours afterwards. Statements like that one set the tone for this book - familiar, yet dark and otherworldly. Tiny bits of southern truth wrapped up in a paranormal tale that kept me turning pages.
Ethan's voice is clear and distinct. Lena's struggle to define who she is and take control of her life is one everyone can relate to, caster or not. Beautiful Creatures touches on the themes of human existence from being an outcast to losing a loved one to the exploration of culture. I happily lost myself in it.
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Garcia & Stohl have delivered a beautifully crafted southern gothic novel with a unique take on the paranormal set in a small Southern town that makes Mayberry look a little like a metropolis.
As a girl with roots in Virginia and North Carolina, I know my southerners. The behavior, the colloquialisms, the gossip, the kooky traditions, the skepticism and irrational fear of outsiders… Beautiful Creatures has it right, down to my favorite line.
“…Religion and superstition all mixed up, like only it can be in the South.”
It rang so true when I read it that I burst into laughter and didn’t stop smiling for hours afterwards. Statements like that one set the tone for this book - familiar, yet dark and otherworldly. Tiny bits of southern truth wrapped up in a paranormal tale that kept me turning pages.
Ethan's voice is clear and distinct. Lena's struggle to define who she is and take control of her life is one everyone can relate to, caster or not. Beautiful Creatures touches on the themes of human existence from being an outcast to losing a loved one to the exploration of culture. I happily lost myself in it.
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LibraryThing member Squishy133
I love the cover of this book! It’s so haunting, but it looks better on the actual cover, because the trees are sort of harder to see and they look kind of holographic when you look at them in a certain light. Anyway, on with the actual book!
I liked the idea of this book, and I loved the
The book was told from Ethan’s perspective – which is something interesting, since romances are usually from the girls pov – though I found him a little bit annoying at times. He automatically accepted certain things (that I won’t mention) in the novel which I would have at least been freaked out at at first.
I hated Amma. She was so pushy and annoying. Sometimes I wanted to hit her with a brick – small problem, she’s trapped in a book, but still… But I liked Macon, and I wish we had gotten to see more of him.
I liked the setting of the novel, which was refreshing since normally tiny sort-of-racist (if that’s how you can describe it) towns don’t usually mix with paranormal romance. I also loved how the towns people spoke realistically, and their accents and opinions were quite cleverly portrayed.
I found that sometimes it was hard to figure out who was talking, which was really a downside, since I had to keep going back and re-reading parts to figure out what was going on. I also didn’t enjoy the fact that there were references that I just did not understand. I mean, I can understand the integrating of the civil war parts, which I thought were really interesting, but there was a mention of something at one stage called a ‘pick ‘n’ roll’, and that just confused me.
Nonetheless, it wasn’t a bad book, though it was a bit too long for my liking, so it could have done with some cutting down. Give it a read if you don’t mind giving up some time. I have a feeling there is a sequel coming, but I’m not entirely sure.
I liked the idea of this book, and I loved the
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characters, especially Lena’s family. I thought that Lena reacted just like most people would when she was humiliated at her new school, and I liked how even when she knew she was different, she just wanted to be a normal girl.The book was told from Ethan’s perspective – which is something interesting, since romances are usually from the girls pov – though I found him a little bit annoying at times. He automatically accepted certain things (that I won’t mention) in the novel which I would have at least been freaked out at at first.
I hated Amma. She was so pushy and annoying. Sometimes I wanted to hit her with a brick – small problem, she’s trapped in a book, but still… But I liked Macon, and I wish we had gotten to see more of him.
I liked the setting of the novel, which was refreshing since normally tiny sort-of-racist (if that’s how you can describe it) towns don’t usually mix with paranormal romance. I also loved how the towns people spoke realistically, and their accents and opinions were quite cleverly portrayed.
I found that sometimes it was hard to figure out who was talking, which was really a downside, since I had to keep going back and re-reading parts to figure out what was going on. I also didn’t enjoy the fact that there were references that I just did not understand. I mean, I can understand the integrating of the civil war parts, which I thought were really interesting, but there was a mention of something at one stage called a ‘pick ‘n’ roll’, and that just confused me.
Nonetheless, it wasn’t a bad book, though it was a bit too long for my liking, so it could have done with some cutting down. Give it a read if you don’t mind giving up some time. I have a feeling there is a sequel coming, but I’m not entirely sure.
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LibraryThing member ahappybooker
I have mixed feelings about this book. I'll start with the positive. The story was very unique and compelling, there were a lot of wonderful background characters, the setting was great. My favorite aspect of Beautiful Creatures was the dark and mysterious southern gothic feel to it, the scenery,
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the overall "feel" of the south was beautifully expressed in every chapter. Both the mysterious air of the cypress and magnolia filled landscape as well as the small town snobbish nature of some places in the deep south were presented in a way that really makes the reader feel a part of the story.The magic of the casters was also really interesting, each caster having their own individual powers that each used in their own unique way. Some of my favorite characters were Lena’s Uncle Macon who I couldn’t decide whether I actually liked him or not through more than half of the book, but I thoroughly enjoyed reading about him. Amma, Ethan’s housekeeper/surrogate mother, who is a force to be reckoned with, was so entertaining. Quick to defend Ethan, she was just as quick to put him in his place when he didn’t do as she said. Amma was as quick with her words as she was with her actions when she felt her boy was threatened. And Ethan’s 3 great aunts were wonderful. They were quirky and dramatic, and altogether entertaining.Where Beautiful Creature missed with me is that I felt like there were some inconsistencies in some of the characters actions as well as in the flow of the plot. Its hard for me to explain without giving away key plot points but there were several points where I felt the actions and decisions a character made didn't fit with their personality as it was presented up to that time. Sometimes I felt the plot jumped around a bit and it took me a minute to understand what was going on and why. Also, there was a bit much on the teen angsty "I can't go on living without you" thing. The relationship between Ethan and Lena reminded me of a reverse kind of Twilight, where the guy was obsessively in love for no apparent reason right from the beginning.All of that being said, I enjoyed the story overall. I think that most fans of YA would also enjoy this novel and anyone who, like me, likes fiction based in the south will appreciate the southern gothic nature of Beautiful Creatures. Rating 3: I liked it Show Less
LibraryThing member CarissaJThomas
Ah, Beautiful Creatures...what can I say?
This book is, in a word: AWESOME.
This is one of those rare books that is able to make you feel like you've stumbled onto one of the best kept secrets of the universe. From the first page you get that telltale tingle that something wonderful is afoot, and I
Garcia and Stohl have managed to do that rare thing that writers like Carlos Ruiz Zafon, Susanna Clarke, and J.K. Rowling have managed to do: Create a brilliant new universe that is so original and so engulfing that it makes even the most jaded reader sit up and take notice.
They've also created a delightful new mythology that takes a decidedly original slant on some tired concepts. Of course, a fantastic universe is nothing without equally fantastic characters to ground it. You don't have to worry though because Garcia and Stohl deliver. I can't really get too specific without risking major spoilage, but I will say that the characters of BC are the kind that you wish were real. The uniqueness of their voices will enable you to disappear into the story.
In terms of plot, the reader may feel a little bewildered at first. The authors play their cards close to their chest--so expect to wait. Don't take this for an amateur mistake though. Garcia and Stohl know exactly where they are going and with a tapestry this beautiful, it's much more satisfying to reveal it one thread at a time.
All in all, Beautiful Creatures is a delicious read. One of those books where you'll feel compelled to take your time so you can savor each word. Then, when it's all over, you'll want to flip right back to page one and start all over again. A+
This book is, in a word: AWESOME.
This is one of those rare books that is able to make you feel like you've stumbled onto one of the best kept secrets of the universe. From the first page you get that telltale tingle that something wonderful is afoot, and I
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have to say that BC truly feels like magic.Garcia and Stohl have managed to do that rare thing that writers like Carlos Ruiz Zafon, Susanna Clarke, and J.K. Rowling have managed to do: Create a brilliant new universe that is so original and so engulfing that it makes even the most jaded reader sit up and take notice.
They've also created a delightful new mythology that takes a decidedly original slant on some tired concepts. Of course, a fantastic universe is nothing without equally fantastic characters to ground it. You don't have to worry though because Garcia and Stohl deliver. I can't really get too specific without risking major spoilage, but I will say that the characters of BC are the kind that you wish were real. The uniqueness of their voices will enable you to disappear into the story.
In terms of plot, the reader may feel a little bewildered at first. The authors play their cards close to their chest--so expect to wait. Don't take this for an amateur mistake though. Garcia and Stohl know exactly where they are going and with a tapestry this beautiful, it's much more satisfying to reveal it one thread at a time.
All in all, Beautiful Creatures is a delicious read. One of those books where you'll feel compelled to take your time so you can savor each word. Then, when it's all over, you'll want to flip right back to page one and start all over again. A+
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LibraryThing member Evie-Bookish
Everywhere I look I see very good reviews of this book. I'm amazed how many people fell in love with it. It makes me feel like I missed something, because it seems I am the only person in the whole world who just doesn't follow the hype.
Maybe it's the fact that I haven't read all that many YA
I really, REALLY disliked the lead character - Ethan. I wished he was more manly, wished for him not to think and act like a whiny child. As a lead character and narrator of the story, he lacked charisma and his voice was just weak, I found myself comparing him to Todd from Chaos Walking Trilogy and regretting that he was nothing like that.
The female lead character, Lena, was not any better. I didn't like her passiveness. If someone tells you that in a year or two you're going to turn dark, would you just accept the fact and not even try to do anything to change it, to save yourself? That's just pure ridiculous.
Ahh man, I really hate writing bad reviews, so maybe I should stop now. There are awfully many rants and complains that are just waiting to be poured out here. The story had a big potential, but I think it was mostly wasted. If I were to list the things that I liked about the book, it would be mostly the side-kick characters (especially Melchizedek, Link and Ridley. Oh, and Boo!) and occasional witty jokes scattered throughout more than 500 pages.
To sum it all up - considering that 99% people out there really love this book, there's a big chance you will like it too. So don't be discouraged by my review, if it was on your TBR list already, I say you still give it a chance.
I, however, won't be reading the next part of the series.
Maybe it's the fact that I haven't read all that many YA
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books in my life, maybe compared to other YA stories out there, this one really stands out? I can't really pinpoint what it is exactly that makes me not like this book. The storyline is good. The writing is solid and skillful, it definitely has a huge potential, and yet when I think about the time when I was reading it, even now I feel tired and unsatisfied. I really, REALLY disliked the lead character - Ethan. I wished he was more manly, wished for him not to think and act like a whiny child. As a lead character and narrator of the story, he lacked charisma and his voice was just weak, I found myself comparing him to Todd from Chaos Walking Trilogy and regretting that he was nothing like that.
The female lead character, Lena, was not any better. I didn't like her passiveness. If someone tells you that in a year or two you're going to turn dark, would you just accept the fact and not even try to do anything to change it, to save yourself? That's just pure ridiculous.
Ahh man, I really hate writing bad reviews, so maybe I should stop now. There are awfully many rants and complains that are just waiting to be poured out here. The story had a big potential, but I think it was mostly wasted. If I were to list the things that I liked about the book, it would be mostly the side-kick characters (especially Melchizedek, Link and Ridley. Oh, and Boo!) and occasional witty jokes scattered throughout more than 500 pages.
To sum it all up - considering that 99% people out there really love this book, there's a big chance you will like it too. So don't be discouraged by my review, if it was on your TBR list already, I say you still give it a chance.
I, however, won't be reading the next part of the series.
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LibraryThing member benuathanasia
Not since Anne of Green Gables has a book that I enjoyed annoyed me so much. So pro and con is the only way to handle this:
Pro - it's a really good and interesting story.
Con - because it follows so many tried and true (i.e. cliched) young adult fantasy tropes.
Pro - the world is pretty detailed with
Con - this can make it hard to remember a lot of who's who and what's what
Pro - the setting is fairly unique from what I've seen of young adult literature
Con - Southern accents (don't know if this shows through with a print version, but the audiobook was...shoot me now)
My first con was the biggest issue for me. It follows the well established pattern of:
-Protagonist lives ordinary, mundane, boring life
-Mysterious and interesting new person shows up at school
-Protagonist and new person begin a buildup of trust
-Said trust alienates protagonist from the rest of the hum-drum community
-Protagonist and new person fall in love
-Protagonist learns about how truly "unique and special" new person is
-Protagonist is the only one who can save new person from some life difficulty
-Because it's "true love"
Also, this book did nothing to disabuse us of the stereotype of ignorant, Civil War-idolizing Southern hick. It also fell into the cliche of dumb jocks and bimbo cheerleaders. Thankfully, no other clique-tropes were highlighted.
Pro - it's a really good and interesting story.
Con - because it follows so many tried and true (i.e. cliched) young adult fantasy tropes.
Pro - the world is pretty detailed with
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histories and a multitude of charactersCon - this can make it hard to remember a lot of who's who and what's what
Pro - the setting is fairly unique from what I've seen of young adult literature
Con - Southern accents (don't know if this shows through with a print version, but the audiobook was...shoot me now)
My first con was the biggest issue for me. It follows the well established pattern of:
-Protagonist lives ordinary, mundane, boring life
-Mysterious and interesting new person shows up at school
-Protagonist and new person begin a buildup of trust
-Said trust alienates protagonist from the rest of the hum-drum community
-Protagonist and new person fall in love
-Protagonist learns about how truly "unique and special" new person is
-Protagonist is the only one who can save new person from some life difficulty
-Because it's "true love"
Also, this book did nothing to disabuse us of the stereotype of ignorant, Civil War-idolizing Southern hick. It also fell into the cliche of dumb jocks and bimbo cheerleaders. Thankfully, no other clique-tropes were highlighted.
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LibraryThing member framberg
This was a perfect snow day book: fast-moving, engaging, and not requiring too much thought. Garcia and Stohl's Southern Gothic takes on classic YA themes of identity and loyalty, setting their supernatural romance in a small South Carolina town where nothing ever changes until the arrival of a
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dark stranger. Not only must the protagonist come to terms with his feelings for his undeniably different girlfriend, but also his feelings about the small town and small town characters who surround him. Show Less
LibraryThing member traciolsen
Sigh. So far, this book isn't bad enough to actually put down. The plot is good enough, but the characters are just placeholders. I can't get into their heads. It's weird that it is told first person, yet I don't have much insight into what Ethan is really feeling. Maybe I just don't get basketball
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players, it's a prejudice of mine. :)Similarly off-putting is the jarring lack of continuity. Just now, Ethan grabs her and kisses her, and then in two paragraphs he is reaching for her. Uh, I think he just *had* her, yes? It's happened a few times and it is starting to bug. And let's just talk about a "paranormal" book that starts with a new girl coming to a small town, and It's Raining. Why did it have to be raining?! Sound familiar? (cough * Twilight * cough) There is even an Emmett character. Shoot me. Not bad enough to stop, just bad enough that I can't wait til it's over. April 2, 2010GAH. Finally finished this ridiculous book. In the last chapter, they reach for and/or clasp each other's hands 3 times in one paragraph. Then, Ethan is unconscious, and comes to on the ground while At The Same Time Lena is leaning against him while they walk to the house. In The Same Sentence. Friking hell. Add all this to the (non)mounting tension built by the desperate need to go to a dance overriding the supernatural threat of death and destruction, and OH GOD the woman who only speaks in quotes, and I want to stab this book in the eye. Will not, obviously, be reading the rest, as I could not care less what happens to any of these people. Grump grump grump. Off to read "Changeless" for some actual paranormal tension, not to mention characters who have relate-able personalities. Show Less
LibraryThing member br14deke
Never getting to the point. Doesn't it annoy you when a book does that? In Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia I was struggling to keep turning the pages , and stopped reading the book entirely around the 200 pages or so. The story was slow, and everything happened at the pace of a turtle. Not that
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anything that happened was actually exciting or unexpected, because it wasn't. Not to be cruel, but the characters weren't particularly exciting either. At least they were original.Ethan is a boy who wanted to leave the small town of Gatlin and finds interest in Lena, the weird new girl in town who instantly became an outcast for who she was related to and for being different than everyone else. Ethan and Lena's families don't particularly like each other. Lena's family is dysfunctional and magically weird. Etahn's mother died, his father never ventures out of his room, and Amma is the old house keeper lady who is closest to Ethan. She's also into voodoo, charms, and tarot card reading. Ethan and Lena's relationship is slow, weird, and supposedly the two are somehow connected.Lena is a Caster and Ethan and her have dreams with one another in them, but I still found the book overall boring, a bit predictable,and at a slow pace, but that's just my own opinion on this novel by Kami Garcia. Show Less
LibraryThing member KateColeman
I was pleasantly surprised with this book. It had a fun and dramatic storyline with lots of twists and turns. It also had the requisite teenage love and family drama. I would recommend this book to Twilight lovers and the like.
LibraryThing member monsterofbooks
The Good Part :)
The characters, the story/plot, the idea, everything. I loved everything. The only complaints are, you'll see later. If you read The Story Siren's review site, then you'll know that once she wrote that she doesn't exactly know why she likes something, she just does. This is the same
**SPOILER**: At the end of the book, Kami & Margaret do something that is quite interesting. The whole book is in Ethan's POV, but at the end when Ethan is unconscious instead of going into a new chapter they turn to Lena's POV. That's right we get a few pages of Lena's POV. And in my opinion, I really liked that and thought it was sort of cool idea. I would really like if Kami & Margaret would rewrite Beautiful Creatures and put it in Lena's POV. I mean, you know how Stephanie Meyer was going to write that book of Twilight in Edward's POV? I would really like to see that done with Lena's POV. Because half way through Beautiful Creatures, while Ethan was narrating, I was wondering what Lena was doing.
What I didn't like
What I didn't like about, Beautiful Creatures, was at times it felt a bit to rushed in describing things. Like one thing would happen, and then the next and you would have to reread that part to get your mind processing it. Another thing was at times, stuff would randomly pop up that was never mentioned before and your like: What? Like a good example of this is in the first chapter *I believe*. Ethan wakes up and he finds out that his window is open and he has mud/dirt in his bed and his Ipod is playing a song he doesn't recognize. I would of enjoyed it more, if there had been mention of this before, because you kind of loose the emotion that it's trying to portray. In my honest opinion, the only chapter I felt was really rushed was the first chapter. There was a few others, but not as bad as the first. I think I would of enjoy it more if it slowed down a bit.
It all sums up to!!
A really good book and a amazing start at, what looks like, a wonderful series. The whole Ethan/Lena relationship reminded me a lot of Romeo/Juliet, which was nice because my favorite Shakespeare play was Romeo And Juliet.
Also in other news, BEAUTIFUL CREATURES HAS THE RIGHTS FOR BECOMING A MOVIE!!! YIPEEE!!! READ HERE!! This new has made me very happy!!!
The characters, the story/plot, the idea, everything. I loved everything. The only complaints are, you'll see later. If you read The Story Siren's review site, then you'll know that once she wrote that she doesn't exactly know why she likes something, she just does. This is the same
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thing, I can't pinpoint why I exactly like this book. But I can tell you that my top two, absolute favorites, books of 2009 are Hush Hush and Beautiful Creatures. I also really related to both Ethan & Lena in the story. Maybe more Lena than Ethan, but still it was nice. It was nice to relate to a character whose going through a problem that similar to yours *not identical of course* and by the end of the book, the reader doesn't feel not alone. The ending will definitely leave people wanting more, and people will be happy to know that there is a sequel on it's way :) Do I recommend this book? Absolutely!!! It's fast paste and you'll never have the feeling of not continuing to read it because it keeps you guessing and wanting more. Also the plot twist was, in my opinion, brillant/wonderful. I never saw it coming. Teen Vogue was comparing this to having Twilight-like buzz, but for anyone who hates Twilight don't let that scare you off. This book is NOTHING like Twilight, and in my opinion it's the most original book I've ever read. But I still recommend this book to everyone,even Twilight-likers or Twilight Haters.**SPOILER**: At the end of the book, Kami & Margaret do something that is quite interesting. The whole book is in Ethan's POV, but at the end when Ethan is unconscious instead of going into a new chapter they turn to Lena's POV. That's right we get a few pages of Lena's POV. And in my opinion, I really liked that and thought it was sort of cool idea. I would really like if Kami & Margaret would rewrite Beautiful Creatures and put it in Lena's POV. I mean, you know how Stephanie Meyer was going to write that book of Twilight in Edward's POV? I would really like to see that done with Lena's POV. Because half way through Beautiful Creatures, while Ethan was narrating, I was wondering what Lena was doing.
What I didn't like
What I didn't like about, Beautiful Creatures, was at times it felt a bit to rushed in describing things. Like one thing would happen, and then the next and you would have to reread that part to get your mind processing it. Another thing was at times, stuff would randomly pop up that was never mentioned before and your like: What? Like a good example of this is in the first chapter *I believe*. Ethan wakes up and he finds out that his window is open and he has mud/dirt in his bed and his Ipod is playing a song he doesn't recognize. I would of enjoyed it more, if there had been mention of this before, because you kind of loose the emotion that it's trying to portray. In my honest opinion, the only chapter I felt was really rushed was the first chapter. There was a few others, but not as bad as the first. I think I would of enjoy it more if it slowed down a bit.
It all sums up to!!
A really good book and a amazing start at, what looks like, a wonderful series. The whole Ethan/Lena relationship reminded me a lot of Romeo/Juliet, which was nice because my favorite Shakespeare play was Romeo And Juliet.
Also in other news, BEAUTIFUL CREATURES HAS THE RIGHTS FOR BECOMING A MOVIE!!! YIPEEE!!! READ HERE!! This new has made me very happy!!!
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LibraryThing member highvoltagegrrl
Beautiful Creatures is a southern gothic story with a paranormal twist. The book is presented from the view of a teenage boy, which is something different when it comes to many of the young adult paranormal books that have been published lately. Ethan has lost his mother, is losing his father, and
The story twists around when a new girl comes to town and strange things happen around her. Things that can’t be explained by anything other than her being a witch. Ethan gravitates towards her and realizes that she’s the one he’s been dreaming of. Literally dreaming of. He knows that something big is going to happen with her and he wants to protect her from it.
It’s a story of a first love, one that can overcome all of the ridicule of a small town. Teenagers find their own way without giving in to the pressure of their friends and doing what’s deemed normal. Ethan and Lena find out about their family trees in ways that make me want to start researching my lineage to find out where I come from. They realize that where they came from plays the most important part in where they are going.
Wonderful characters fill up this novel even straying from people to include a wolf masquerading as a dog and a house that is ever changing depending on the mood of its inhabitants. A lollipop addicted girl is just as bad as she looks, but having visions of death and destruction can actually be a good thing.
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being raised by a woman that practices voodoo. He is part of the "in" crowd at a school in a town that is set in its ways and he is struggling to become his own person.The story twists around when a new girl comes to town and strange things happen around her. Things that can’t be explained by anything other than her being a witch. Ethan gravitates towards her and realizes that she’s the one he’s been dreaming of. Literally dreaming of. He knows that something big is going to happen with her and he wants to protect her from it.
It’s a story of a first love, one that can overcome all of the ridicule of a small town. Teenagers find their own way without giving in to the pressure of their friends and doing what’s deemed normal. Ethan and Lena find out about their family trees in ways that make me want to start researching my lineage to find out where I come from. They realize that where they came from plays the most important part in where they are going.
Wonderful characters fill up this novel even straying from people to include a wolf masquerading as a dog and a house that is ever changing depending on the mood of its inhabitants. A lollipop addicted girl is just as bad as she looks, but having visions of death and destruction can actually be a good thing.
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LibraryThing member ashwey
This book was pretty gripping. I really had a hard time putting it down! I liked it a lot and would recommend it to anyone who's a Twilight fan.
LibraryThing member indygo88
I think this book is following along in the aftermath of the Twilight phenomena, except that instead of vampires & werewolves, it explores magic of sorts & what is referred to as "casters". Realistic with present-day scenarios & characters, it also casts a supernatural aspect to everything. Parts
I did listen to this on audio (mp3 format), and I will say I found that the sound effects used sporadically throughout did add something to my listening enjoyment. There's also a rather haunting melody/song played throughout which I am still hearing in my head.
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of this novel I thought were really well written, but I found other parts not quite as well developed. The last quarter or so of the novel seemed a little more disjointed than the rest, and I had trouble figuring out exactly what some of the earlier parts of the book had to do with the later parts. But, when all is said and done, this was an enjoyable young adult novel & does pique the reader's interest enough to want to continue reading the rest in the series. So yes, I'll most likely be one of those readers anxiously awaiting the sequel. I did listen to this on audio (mp3 format), and I will say I found that the sound effects used sporadically throughout did add something to my listening enjoyment. There's also a rather haunting melody/song played throughout which I am still hearing in my head.
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LibraryThing member thelittlereader
i try to reserve judgment for books that get a lot of hype for fear of disappointment, but lately, i haven’t been disappointed at all. i really enjoyed Beautiful Creatures. it started a little slow, introducing the characters and getting us situated in the small southern town of Gatlin, but once
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it grabbed hold, it didn’t let go until the very end. with the right formula for success – great characters, great writing, fresh intriguing plot lines, intertwining family histories, anti-sappy love story – there’s really not much to criticize. it was excellent and despite the length of nearly 600 pages, was a very quick read.when Ethan Wate starts having all-too-real nightmares about a girl he has never met and she actually shows up in town, he knows he’s in trouble. Lena Duchannes, who is more than a little different, is the niece of the town hermit, which makes her an automatic outcast and the talk of the town. but, Ethan knows that it isn’t just dreams that are bringing them together. the Duchannes family has a dark secret that will reveal itself on Lena’s sixteenth birthday and as the countdown ensues, whether anyone likes it or not, the town is in for some surprises.the characters are amazing (i personally loved Amma and Boo the best) and the narrative brings you to the deep south in a way that makes you live and breathe it. i mean, the hostility that is felt towards Lena, although disturbingly primitive, is utterly believable. and ultimately, you get a story about insiders and outsiders, magic and mortals, all woven into a love story that is so beautiful that you just can’t look away. "As I looked at her, my knees started to buckle, which was starting to become a familiar feeling. She was so pretty it hurt." "I had Lena. She was powerful and she was beautiful. Every day was terrifying, and every day was perfect."the book is written from Ethan’s perspective and offers a fresh look into the mind of a high school boy, although i wouldn’t call him typical. for starters, ever since his mother died and his father holed himself in his study, his family is almost as weird as Lena’s. and he plays basketball AND reads. is that even possible? kidding aside, i really loved that this book promoted reading in the YA genre and thought it did an amazing job at tackling some other really big issues like prejudice and tolerance.if you haven’t read this and you’re even the slightest bit interested in paranormal fiction, you should pick it up. but, it’s the first in a planned series of five, so be ready for the wait. Show Less
LibraryThing member ethel55
"There was a curse.
There was a girl.
And in the end, there was a grave."
Gatlin, South Carolina and its' inhabitants provided a wonderful backdrop for a story I fully enjoyed! Ethan is a hero worthy of John Green, with a life-long friend named Link and an all-knowing housekeeper named Amma. Lena
There was a girl.
And in the end, there was a grave."
Gatlin, South Carolina and its' inhabitants provided a wonderful backdrop for a story I fully enjoyed! Ethan is a hero worthy of John Green, with a life-long friend named Link and an all-knowing housekeeper named Amma. Lena
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is the new girl in town, living with her uncle Macon, the town recluse and a dog named Boo Radley. Newcomers in any small southern town are looked upon with distrust but Lena's odd connection with Ethan and reaction to school teasing makes her a bigger target than usual. The authors had a great handle on the historical side of the story as well as the mystical. In Gatlin, I believed all that occurred was possible. If I were a teen today, twiddling my thumbs waiting for the next Twilight movie to come out, I would easily give up on those pasty Pacific Northwesterners to visit this small, gothic-like Southern town. Show Less
LibraryThing member Nafiza
When I started reading this, I remember being slightly perturbed that the narrative voice was that of Ethan – a masculine viewpoint and one that I had not yet stumbled upon in my readings of the genre. Now that I have finished the book, however, I feel that presenting the book from this
Ethan Lawson Wate belongs to this world just as much as the world belongs to him. It is an uneasy possession – at least on his side, because the world he is in is fast limiting his horizons and there is nothing he wants more than to leave. Of course there are people there he loves – Amma, the housekeeper who practically raised him, his best friend Link and his father who is almost drowned by the grief of his mother. Then there is the girl he keeps on dreaming about – the girl he keeps on losing in his dreams. Ethan is almost convinced that she is a figment of his overly vivid subconscious until she shows up in town.
Lena Duchannes. And it is love. Despite all the odds stacked against them, despite the time limit on their fledgling relationship. Despite the fact that everyone in the vicinity believes she is a demon incognito and perhaps because of the fact that Ethan’s life would be much simpler, much less complicated if he could simply stop loving her.
The book took a while to grow on me. Usually I start reading a book and either I love it or I hate it. But perhaps it is because I was reading this book while I was (actually I still am) on vacation. It took me a while to get used to the male perspective as I said but ultimately the story won me out.
The characters are individuals who are all uniquely hewed and have more of a role in the story than just space fillers. The plot is well thought out and researched. Stohl and Garcia approach the same story that has been told countless times in a fresh way that imbues the plot with a newness that has been missing. By narrating the story from the lead whose main role usually is as a side-kick to the heroine’s, the readers are distanced from the heroine. However, instead of feeling detached from her and her life, the reader feels, more acutely, what her uniqueness is. Stohl and Garcia succeed in creating a hero and heroine who capture (and keep) attentions until after the story is done. They somehow are more relatable than their contemporaries in the genre.
Amma in Hindi (Urdu, too, perhaps, and it’s Omma in Korean) means “Mother” and the fact that Ethan’s Amma is his mother in everything but blood made me smile. I don’t know if it was an intentional naming and if it was, it was very clever and I appreciated it.
I am going to give this book four stars because, while I wasn’t totally blown away by it, I really did like Ethan, Lena, Link and even Ridley. I liked Uncle Macon, Aunt Del and Boo Radley. The strength of the book lay in its characters and I will most certainly be checking out the next installment in the series to see what happens to Lena and Ethan next.
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perspective was ingenious – and perhaps the reason for the success of the book. I was immersed in a world where family and lineage are, above all, the most important aspects to life. Who a person is and what he/she is going to become is predetermined and depends more on the family a person hails from than the person himself. A person is not allowed to be different.Ethan Lawson Wate belongs to this world just as much as the world belongs to him. It is an uneasy possession – at least on his side, because the world he is in is fast limiting his horizons and there is nothing he wants more than to leave. Of course there are people there he loves – Amma, the housekeeper who practically raised him, his best friend Link and his father who is almost drowned by the grief of his mother. Then there is the girl he keeps on dreaming about – the girl he keeps on losing in his dreams. Ethan is almost convinced that she is a figment of his overly vivid subconscious until she shows up in town.
Lena Duchannes. And it is love. Despite all the odds stacked against them, despite the time limit on their fledgling relationship. Despite the fact that everyone in the vicinity believes she is a demon incognito and perhaps because of the fact that Ethan’s life would be much simpler, much less complicated if he could simply stop loving her.
The book took a while to grow on me. Usually I start reading a book and either I love it or I hate it. But perhaps it is because I was reading this book while I was (actually I still am) on vacation. It took me a while to get used to the male perspective as I said but ultimately the story won me out.
The characters are individuals who are all uniquely hewed and have more of a role in the story than just space fillers. The plot is well thought out and researched. Stohl and Garcia approach the same story that has been told countless times in a fresh way that imbues the plot with a newness that has been missing. By narrating the story from the lead whose main role usually is as a side-kick to the heroine’s, the readers are distanced from the heroine. However, instead of feeling detached from her and her life, the reader feels, more acutely, what her uniqueness is. Stohl and Garcia succeed in creating a hero and heroine who capture (and keep) attentions until after the story is done. They somehow are more relatable than their contemporaries in the genre.
Amma in Hindi (Urdu, too, perhaps, and it’s Omma in Korean) means “Mother” and the fact that Ethan’s Amma is his mother in everything but blood made me smile. I don’t know if it was an intentional naming and if it was, it was very clever and I appreciated it.
I am going to give this book four stars because, while I wasn’t totally blown away by it, I really did like Ethan, Lena, Link and even Ridley. I liked Uncle Macon, Aunt Del and Boo Radley. The strength of the book lay in its characters and I will most certainly be checking out the next installment in the series to see what happens to Lena and Ethan next.
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LibraryThing member Barb_H
I am rating it as just an ok book. I listened to the audio version, which I think was a good thing. The voice acting was great and the musical additions were awesome and really helped set the mood. I think that I am just bored with this particular type of supernatural romance story, especially teen
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versions. I do think that if you enjoy this genre, that this isn't a bad book. Show Less
LibraryThing member heathersblue
Teen Fiction at its best. Part historican novel about the civil war and part magic. While getting involved in the growing romance between a caster and a mortal the reader learns history regarding the Civil War. A very creative coming of age story.
LibraryThing member 15amyb
beautiful creature:
this book was about a small town in America where a new girl moves in and theirs a connection between her and this boy Ethan who has dreams about her falling and drowning so when she moves to the town hes really freaked out and try's to under stand her but by under standing her
i think that this book was a really interesting book to read, all of the charters where really individual and different i really liked the charter who was telling the story "Ethan" he was just a really normal person who all these strange things where happening too also it was really romantic between the main to Ethan and leana witch i really . i recommended it too teen who enjoy supernatural and a little romance.
this book was about a small town in America where a new girl moves in and theirs a connection between her and this boy Ethan who has dreams about her falling and drowning so when she moves to the town hes really freaked out and try's to under stand her but by under standing her
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it unravels all her super natural secrets. i think that this book was a really interesting book to read, all of the charters where really individual and different i really liked the charter who was telling the story "Ethan" he was just a really normal person who all these strange things where happening too also it was really romantic between the main to Ethan and leana witch i really . i recommended it too teen who enjoy supernatural and a little romance.
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LibraryThing member xXlovelyxladyXx
I haven't read a love story so exciting, so magical, so nerve-racking, and so powerfully romantic in a very long time. I absolutely LOVED this book. When I first picked it up at the library, I honestly had absolutely no idea how much of an impact it's world would have on me. I was so captured by
Out of all the paranormal YA romance novels I've ever read, Ethan is one of my favorite characters of all time. *Sighs dreamily* Ethan and Lena's relationship was just so...amazing. It was intoxicating, luscious, and a breath of fresh air. Nothing was gushy, cheesy, or typical about it.
And the plot? Whoa. Don't even get me started on the fantastical, magical world of the Casters. Each and every Caster has different powers that are very well thought out without seeming overdone. The Southern Gothic storyline kept this book going at a steady pace and showed a different state of mind of a much older, simpler, and smaller town.
Beautiful Creatures is a magnificently woven love story that slowly pulls you in and takes a hold of your heart until the very end. Anyone who has not read this book has got to go out and get it because they are seriously missing out. This novel is a must have of 2010 and I just have to say that we could all use a little more of the fantasy and romance that this book delivers so wonderfully.
Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars
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the storyline and enthralled about Ethan and Lena's budding romance that I literally felt like I was there the entire time, watching them every time they met or spoke or held hands or drove to school tog ...more I haven't read a love story so exciting, so magical, so nerve-racking, and so powerfully romantic in a very long time. I absolutely LOVED this book. When I first picked it up at the library, I honestly had absolutely no idea how much of an impact it's world would have on me. I was so captured by the storyline and enthralled about Ethan and Lena's budding romance that I literally felt like I was there the entire time, watching them every time they met or spoke or held hands or drove to school together in Uncle Macon's Hearse. I loved how Margaret and Kami gave plenty of time for their love to grow and expand into something so powerful that it left me breathless. I also loved that this book was in the p.o.v. of Ethan rather than Lena since it gave everyone a different perspective of the mystical world.Out of all the paranormal YA romance novels I've ever read, Ethan is one of my favorite characters of all time. *Sighs dreamily* Ethan and Lena's relationship was just so...amazing. It was intoxicating, luscious, and a breath of fresh air. Nothing was gushy, cheesy, or typical about it.
And the plot? Whoa. Don't even get me started on the fantastical, magical world of the Casters. Each and every Caster has different powers that are very well thought out without seeming overdone. The Southern Gothic storyline kept this book going at a steady pace and showed a different state of mind of a much older, simpler, and smaller town.
Beautiful Creatures is a magnificently woven love story that slowly pulls you in and takes a hold of your heart until the very end. Anyone who has not read this book has got to go out and get it because they are seriously missing out. This novel is a must have of 2010 and I just have to say that we could all use a little more of the fantasy and romance that this book delivers so wonderfully.
Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars
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LibraryThing member ImBookingIt
When reading this, I actually regretted having read Twilight. I enjoyed Twilight, even while recognizing its flaws.Unfortunately, my time reading Beautiful Creatures was spent thinking how much better it was than Twilight. I do think that BC was better written, and I'm sorry that I was distracted
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from its world by these thoughts.For me, the biggest strength of Beautiful Creatures were the two main characters. They were both honestly teenage without being obnoxious, or at least only occasionally annoying :-). Both Ethan and Lena had enough depth to be interesting. The secondary characters were good, if mostly a little shallowly written. They covered enough variety to make up for that!I also was intrigued by the magical world, with a mythology not directly related to any other I've encountered. Working withing an existing mythology isn't a problem for me, but I liked the creativity of this one, particularly since it seemed well thought through.The other thing that stood out to me while reading was how some of the common conventions of YA paranormal romances were turned on their heads-- the primary example being the normal male teen and the powerful supernatural female teen!This wasn't a deep read, but it was a fun one! Show Less
LibraryThing member carinac
Beautiful creatures, what immortals call the mortals who believe that they can change everything.
Ethan is an everyday boy living in an everyday small town where nothing is ever changing and no one ever leaves. Until he starts having dreams about a girl he had never met, and a month later she shows
The book is a love story like a lot of the other young adult stories out there. Beautiful Creature is a lot like Twilight and Hush Hush with mystical creatures falling in love with a mortal. Beautiful Creatures is narrated by Ethan a sixteen year old boy who falls in love with Lena. Lena is different then you normal girl and Ethan soon finds out exactly what Lena, the girl of his dreams, really is. And, when he does, his whole life begins to change. His everyday town that he thought he knew everything about has secrets that he didn't even know about.
I really enjoyed the book, I found myself getting lost in the story. You find yourself despising Mrs. Lincoln and rooting for Lena and Ethan's relationship even though everyone is against it. And throughout the whole book you keep wondering what will happen on Lena's sixteenth birthday.
The ending leaves me with questions, will there be a second one? Is there something now going to happen on Lena's 17th birthday? And, why didn't Lena's name change like all the rest of her family members?
But overall good book. :)
Ethan is an everyday boy living in an everyday small town where nothing is ever changing and no one ever leaves. Until he starts having dreams about a girl he had never met, and a month later she shows
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up in his life.The book is a love story like a lot of the other young adult stories out there. Beautiful Creature is a lot like Twilight and Hush Hush with mystical creatures falling in love with a mortal. Beautiful Creatures is narrated by Ethan a sixteen year old boy who falls in love with Lena. Lena is different then you normal girl and Ethan soon finds out exactly what Lena, the girl of his dreams, really is. And, when he does, his whole life begins to change. His everyday town that he thought he knew everything about has secrets that he didn't even know about.
I really enjoyed the book, I found myself getting lost in the story. You find yourself despising Mrs. Lincoln and rooting for Lena and Ethan's relationship even though everyone is against it. And throughout the whole book you keep wondering what will happen on Lena's sixteenth birthday.
The ending leaves me with questions, will there be a second one? Is there something now going to happen on Lena's 17th birthday? And, why didn't Lena's name change like all the rest of her family members?
But overall good book. :)
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Awards
Audie Award (Finalist — 2011)
Arkansas Teen Book Award (Honor Book — 2011)
Colorado Blue Spruce Award (Nominee — 2014)
California Young Reader Medal (Nominee — 2013)
The Flume: NH Teen Reader's Choice Award (Nominee — 2011)
William C. Morris YA Debut Award (Finalist — 2010)
Volunteer State Book Award (Nominee — Young Adult — 2012)
Evergreen Teen Book Award (Nominee — 2012)
Georgia Peach Book Award for Teen Readers (Honor Book — 2012)
SCIBA T. Jefferson Parker Mystery Award (Finalist)
OYAN Book Rave (2011)
Call number
YA B Gar