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abarnhart's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
k_phamm's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This sweeping romance is found within an old-world elegance with a touch of magical realism. This is a story that perfectly encapsulates a distorted telenovela.
The main characters involved are Nina and Valarie Beaulieu (a.k.a. the human embodiment of bitterness) with Hector Auvery as the male protagonist (i.e., the love interest). In two parts, we're told about their upbringing as youths in French society and then reintroduced to them as young adults.
The story sweeps you away near the tale-end of the first part and again in the final ten(ish) chapters. Nina transformed from a naive, innocent hopeless-romantic to a young woman who's more guarded and measured. Hector comes into himself (i.e., more grounded in his resolve) and his love for Nina comes into focus. Valarie's resentment bursts through the pages with each interaction with Nina and Hector.
Of Silvia Moreno-Garcia's works, The Beautiful Ones is most comparable to readers of Mexican Gothic. They're both sweeping tales with lush world-building, in which the characters within feels tangible. This one is a slow-burner but once it burns it BURNS.
The main characters involved are Nina and Valarie Beaulieu (a.k.a. the human embodiment of bitterness) with Hector Auvery as the male protagonist (i.e., the love interest). In two parts, we're told about their upbringing as youths in French society and then reintroduced to them as young adults.
The story sweeps you away near the tale-end of the first part and again in the final ten(ish) chapters. Nina transformed from a naive, innocent hopeless-romantic to a young woman who's more guarded and measured. Hector comes into himself (i.e., more grounded in his resolve) and his love for Nina comes into focus. Valarie's resentment bursts through the pages with each interaction with Nina and Hector.
Of Silvia Moreno-Garcia's works, The Beautiful Ones is most comparable to readers of Mexican Gothic. They're both sweeping tales with lush world-building, in which the characters within feels tangible. This one is a slow-burner but once it burns it BURNS.
scijessreads's review against another edition
4.0
I honestly did not know what to expect with this book. For a moment it felt like heading into The Night Circus territory, but quickly went on its own way. The focus on love not only as unrequited and lost, but as found when unexpected, that was what made this story different. It was melodrama, but intimate and held close, not played out on some epic scale.
drinaiscold's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
beandog9's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed this book and had to read the last 50 or so pages without stopping to see how it resolved. I think i preferred Gods of Jade and Shadow.
cgdavies6's review against another edition
5.0
A faultless slow-burn romance with flickers of the surreal. Moreno-Garcia’s engaging and fluid writing style perfectly tells this story.
rubytrev's review against another edition
5.0
I really enjoyed this book. It made me think of watching novelas (soap operas) with my mom when I was little. It was so dramatic in the end, and I loved it.
resopus's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Wonderful, rich writing with excellent imagery
greidy33's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
quingar's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0