FlumeAward – Beautiful Creatures Discussion page for Beautiful Creatures.
This is also being considered for the Isinglass List at this time (2/2010). A dark gothic Southern romance that pairs a mortal with a "caster". It flashes back to Civil War days to weave in another tale of doomed lovers. I almost wish there was more of that story. The characters are stock, the plot thickens as you learn more of the "secrets" of the town. I haven’t finished it yet but I think it will certainly appeal to the crowd who liked Twilight. It is a long novel probably for more advanced readers. It is nice though to have a novel that includes romance and older teens without graphic sex scenes and swearing. -Amy Inglis Barrington
….OK just got through it and must say I was really miffed that I read over 600 pages to SET UP a sequel. The author totally wimped out and put off the climax with a lame excuse. I assume that scene will appear in book 2 or 3? A little tired of girl characters who fall for a boy and simply play the role of "person to whom everthing happens and they have no control". Have some gumption girls! Better books out there for this list.
The girls at our school really like this. The Twilight crowd likes this as well. It’s the first in a series. We have teachers who like this,too. I actually thought it was written better than Twilight.
– Kelly Budd, KHS
I think this novel is very well written, and I believe the teens really love it. A good addition to any library especially since it is part of a series.
Let me start by saying that this book was wonderful. It had its faults but altogether I really enjoyed it. The one thing that did bother me is the names, particularly the teachers’ names. Maybe they will be changed in the final product though, but an English teacher named Mrs. English? Yeah, no. I am also confused why people in the south give girls boy names and boys girls names. Like a girl named Ryan or a boy named Kelly. It’s a little silly. The other thing that bothered me was the line "Talk about a hot lunch." This may be different in the final copy but if it is not it will bother me forever for it’s lameness. That said the characters were very believable and there were little bits of their past thrown in to make them seem even more real. I really liked all the twists and turns and in general how this book was written. I feel that if I go into too much detail I’ll ruin the book and I don’t want to do that. I was hoping this was going to be scary, but since it was so good that made up for it. Beautiful Creatures is a bold take on Southern Gothic, opening a new genre of YA that combines supernatural and the south, things that aren’t often put together. (At least not something I have read.) I have to say I did love the Jessica Rabbit from Who Framed Roger Rabbit reference, that line pretty much made my day. If you haven’t seen that movie go watch it right now and on December 1st buy this book. You won’t regret it. Inside you’ll find, magic, romance, teenage angst, weird families, creepy houses, Southern flavor, good vs. evil and a curse that needs to be broken. This is a truly incredible book, that deserves praise and could possibly be read for many years to come. -B.Moore Hall Memorial Library