Beautiful Creatures By Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl Reviewed By Amy

Reading level: Young Adult

Hardcover: 563 pages

Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers; 1 edition (December 1, 2009)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 0316042676

ISBN-13: 978-0316042673

Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.9 x 1.7 inches

Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds

The Story

Beautiful Creatures

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. 
 
From TheBeautifulCreatures.com
 
 
 Did you always plan to start the book with Ethan's story? Why?


Kami: We knew before we started that we wanted to write from a boy's point of view. Margie and I both have brothers—-six, between us-—so it wasn't a stretch. It's an interesting experience to fall in love with the guy telling the story rather than the guy the story is about.

Margie: We do kind of love Ethan, so we wanted there to be more to him than just the boy from boy meets girl.

Kami: He's the guy who stands by you at all costs and accepts you for who you are, even if you aren't quite sure who that is.

Amazon Exclusive Interview with Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl, Authors of Beautiful Creatures

                                                     Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl


My Review

I absolutely loved this book. While reading, I would imagine myself sitting in a rocking chair on the wrap around porch of my plantation home, eating fried green tomatoes while drinking sweet tea. I was so wrapped around the storyline about Ethan and Lena that I literally felt like I was standing there watching them as they walked hand in hand, or driving to school in Uncle Macon's hearse. I felt like a fly on the wall or "Boo" Uncle Macon's dog who witnessed pretty much everything. It was so brilliantly written that I imagined everything from the way a painting looked hung on the wall. Or a vase sitting in the middle of the baby grand piano with flowers dripping over the edge. The way the food that "kitchen" made was presented for all to enjoy. Everywhere I looked I saw anything and everything that Kami and Margaret were writing about. I would even dream about the characters. I can't begin to tell you how obsessed I was with them. And that's just it; all the characters just came alive while reading. Each and every one had such a great role to play. 
 
I think Ethan might be one of my favorite fictional characters ~ As I take a deep breath and long dreamy sigh. Ethan and Lena's relationship was so amazing. I would like to think that my husband and I have a love like theirs. It was strong. Electric. Intoxicating. Addictive. Nothing too gushy or cheesy about it. I haven't even started on the fantasy, magical world of Casters. I couldn't wait to see what happens from day to day in Gatlin County. Every Caster had different powers. Each was very cool and well thought out. The Southern Gothic storyline kept this book going at a steady pace. I never felt bored. I never felt like I wanted it to be done already, like I have many times in the past with long books. 
 
Beautiful Creatures is a fantasy filled love story that draws you in slowly and takes a hold of your heart all the way to the very last page. Do not hesitate to pick this book up as soon as you can. Let me just say we could all use a little of the intrigue, fantasy and romance that this book delivers so well. 
 
 
 







The Sequel BEAUTIFUL DARKNESS            




in stores October 26, 2010!!!!!!

*A word to the parents there is some kissing, some violence and some minor language in this book. For more content information check here. Parental Book Reviews