From the Bookshelf of Challenge Corner…

The Beautiful (The Beautiful, #1)

Renée Ahdieh

Start date: October 1, 2019

Finish date: October 31, 2019

Discussion: Book of the Month

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Book of the Month

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What Members Thought

Oct 28, 2019 Jenn rated it really liked it

Shelves: books-i-own, cover-love, 4-star-reads, read-in-2019, who-to-trust, read-in-2024, paranormal-supernatural, young-adult, fantasy, vampires

Vampires. New Orleans. 1800's. This book spoke to my soul.

This was my second book from Ahdieh and a complete change from The Wrath and the Dawn. In The Beautiful, we follow Celine as she arrives in New Orleans looking to start over after a horrible altercation in Paris. She is instantly taken in by the beauty and magic of New Orleans, I mean, who wouldn't be? But soon she finds herself immersed in the world of La Cour des Lions - or the Court of Lions, and drawn to their leader Sébastien Saint ...more

10 likes · Like · see review

Mar 19, 2020 Tbirdplanstoread rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: signed, own-hard-back, fairyloot, z-2020-read, catalogued, 2024-05-may

2024: I definitely keep my 4/5 rating! If anything, I may have enjoyed this a lot more this second time through since I took my time and tabbed things as I went.

That ending!!! I can't wait to finally be able to read the rest of this series now that it's finally complete!!

2020: 4/5 ...more

9 likes · Like · see review

Aug 26, 2019 Kayleigh {K-Books} rated it it was amazing

Shelves: own-physical, fantasy

The Beautiful Review on K-Books

"When life becomes difficult, the only source of strength we have is love. Love of others, love of self, love of life in its entirety."

There are no words to explain just how excited I am to have already read The Beautiful. I am a huge fan of Renee Ahdieh and have read all of her books to date and loved them all. I was so excited to see her go into a new genre and I have to say I loved every single second of this book.

The Beautiful is very different from Renee's The Beautiful Review on K-Books

"When life becomes difficult, the only source of strength we have is love. Love of others, love of self, love of life in its entirety."

There are no words to explain just how excited I am to have already read The Beautiful. I am a huge fan of Renee Ahdieh and have read all of her books to date and loved them all. I was so excited to see her go into a new genre and I have to say I loved every single second of this book.

The Beautiful is very different from Renee's previous books and honestly, I think this may be my favourite of hers to date. It's dark, romantic and unputdownable. The Beautiful is set in 1800s New Orleans, a city ran by vampires. Celine has just arrived in New Orleans and finds that there seems to be a string of murders. Never one to back away from danger she is determined to find the culprit before someone else is killed... but has she just put herself in the killers sights?

One thing I adored about this book is that it is not your typical YA vampire book. I was so excited to see a new vampire book but at the same time a little bit worried, as I feel like vampire romance books were so overdone back a few years ago after the rise of Twilight. I needn't have worried at all! This is not your typical vampire romance. It is so, so much more and it was beautiful and perfect. I am a sucker for anything serial killer-eske so to find that at the forefront of this story was perfect for me. I was so engrossed in this story and trying to figure out who the killer was. I loved that it was essentially a murder mystery but with vampires and magical creatures. I loved every single second of it.

Renee Ahdieh is one of my all time favourite authors and this book shows why. She's strayed away from her typical genre of epic high fantasy, and honestly she does paranormal/mystery even better. I don't think there is anything this woman can write that I won't fall in love with. The world was incredible. Her world building of 1800s New Orleans was fantastic and I truly felt like I was in that time period while I was reading it. The glitz, the glamour and the danger was all entwined in this fantastic tale. The characters were just incredible. I loved Celine and how she is warring with a darkness within herself and how she is drawn to the magical Court of the Lions. And don't even get me started on Sebastian. He is just the most incredible character and I am well and truly in love!

The Beautiful was everything I could have wanted and more. It was stunning and beautiful and there are no words to truly describe my utter love and obsession with this book. It is one of my favourite reads of the year so far. I already just want to go back and read it again and cherish every word. I am so excited for the second book already. If there is one book you're going to read this Autumn/Fall then make sure it is this one. You will not be disappointed. Come to the dark side and get caught up in the gorgeous and dangerous Court of the Lions.

"Love of any kind is a weapon to be used against you, when weilded by the right hand."

...more

3 likes · Like · see review

Nov 12, 2024 Susan rated it really liked it

Shelves: owned-tbr

I started this book 2 times before and never could get into it but this time I was in a better frame of mind. I really enjoyed this book. I love how it built and built to the ending and how well it all came together. I love the plot twist and at the very end. I kept thinking I knew who was committing the murders and then I would be wrong. For me I love that when it happens that way.

I love the world and that it took place in New Orleans which is the perfect setting for a vampire book. I love New ...more

2 likes · Like · see review