Cover Image: The Beautiful Ones

The Beautiful Ones

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Member Reviews

The book title and genre felt a little misleading. The title was referenced but not in any significant way and made it really confusing to the book's intentions. And labeling it a paranormal romance is definitely a stretch. Yes it did have some telekinesis, but it felt more like a device to bond the characters like their shared disdain on societal rules. It really isn't a huge issue, but just so you know what you're getting into it definitely has more of the feel of a historical romance.
As for the plot, I appreciated the fact that it didn't follow the typical boy/girl romance novel story line. It was still a bit predictable but had enough changes to be a refreshing read. I didn't particularly love the main character Nina, there were many times I just cringed from her naivety and innocence (which I know are staples in the romance genre but these were portrayed as shallow and silly rather than an asset *cue rascal manning up to live up to girl's day dreams). However those qualities did highlight the contrast to Hector's love interest in Valerie, which added dimension to their love triangle dilemmas.
The reason for a low rating was that I found the beginning half of the book very, very slow. The details became tedious and redundant, and I really had to push myself to read the last half. I wouldn't go as far as to say it was rewarding to finish it, but the ending was able to capture my attention a bit more and I thought the last details of the plot came together in a believable fashion. I usually like romance, and quick and easy reads every once in awhile, but I just really couldn't get into the flow of the book to be able to enjoy this one.

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In short, I loved it.
An alternate Victorianesque history featuring telekinesis, manners and romance may sound like an odd mix, but Garcia was able to blend them together into something truly magical and beautiful. Nina was a fabulous main character. She was funny, quirky, a little naive and a hopeless romantic. She was basically the oddball of high society, the country girl in fancy clothes who doesn’t know the manners of a proper young elite.
Hector was also a very interesting characters. He was very chivalrous, but also incredibly stubborn and passionate. Both qualities leading him into trouble. Then there is Valerie, who wasn't my favourite character but I did love to hate her!
Garcia beautifully explored the telekinetic powers in Hector and Nina and how it sets them apart, makes them the same and what it means for their future.
The society that the characters live in is very posh. Very strict on what is in and what is out. If you don’t act classy, you are trash. If you say the wrong thing or are seen with the wrong person at the wrong time, labels spring up and you are ruined. Garcia explores what it is like to be different in this society.
The romance in this novel shows the repercussions of falling in love young and quickly, the pain and struggle it can cause when things don’t go according to plan and the slow healing process of opening up to possibility again and letting it just flow. It was amazing and I absolutely adored this element!
Overall, I really enjoyed this novel. It may have been slightly predictable here and there, but all in all it was gorgeously written, wonderfully paced and with characters that are still roaming around in my head!

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The Beautiful Ones
by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

I received a copy of this book for review purposes.

This book was 'advertised' as a paranormal romance, which isn't quite exactly true in that the only paranormal bit was that a few people in this world have tele/psychokinesis. Other than that, it is a drama of manners set in an imaginary country/world that could easily double for Regency England, complete with arranged marriages between poor title women being forced to marry men with money they do not love, leaving men that they are at least in lust with behind as the men seek their fortune.

Hector is the male who leaves to make his fortune using his psychokinetic ability to not only become fabulously wealthy but incredibly famous. He returns to sweep the woman he left a decade ago off her feet, despite her marriage to a wealthy man, engineered by her greedy family to shore up their title.

When this proves impossible, he courts her niece, Nina instead. Nina is the ingenue that we see in most romances, except she too has tele/psychokinesis. He uses this to bond with her.

Everything goes to hell, when Hector's first love who happens to be the wife of Nina's cousin, interferes out of jealousy.

Fear not, Nina grows up and Hector catches a clue. There is a HEA.

When I read a book based on regency Era manners and society, there is a piece of me that wants Jane Austen. But Hector is no Mr. Darcy and Nina is certainly no Elizabeth Bennet. However there is a certain beauty, in description and behaviors. And a certain realism in everyone's reaction to each other's actions.

For fans of Regency drama who prefer the melodrama of Wuthering Heights to the fun of Pride and Prejudice or Northanger Abbey, this is definitely the book for you. Also, it was fun having what is essentially all of Europe squished together into three of four countries.

The writing itself is good, fitting the period. But the book is about 50-70 pages too long and there is a feeling of slogging through it.

This book is Book Nerd accepted.

3 out of 5

https://smile.amazon.com/Beautiful-Ones-Novel-Silvia-Moreno-Garcia/dp/1250099064/

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The Beautiful Ones surprised me with the smoothness of the text. The writing style is so fluid and engaging. Romance is not something I generally look for in a novel; I actually tend to shy away from it, not considering myself a 'romantic'. However, this book was subtle and delicate with its blossoming romance in a way that I could relate to and enjoy. I appreciated that the author didn't fall into the trap of writing more heavy, or erotic, scenes. While reading, I kept thinking of how much it reminded me of William Makepeace Thackeray's, Vanity Fair but with magic! (which is a great compliment, as I love that novel)

The atmosphere is thick with 'old-world' upper-class traditions and excesses; easily transporting the reader to the streets and parties of Loisail! The main characters were just quirky enough and full of vices, and some virtues, spewing forth with inner desires. I enjoy how the story was told from the perspective of multiple characters as I felt it helped the story line to progress at a strong, steady pace. I would definitely recommend this book to friends who enjoy stories with just the right amount of magical elements and plenty of beauty! I would also definitely seek out other books by this author in the future.

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An amazing read, kinda fun and kinda frustrating at a character so blinded by previous infatuation. Very character driven story with beautiful descriptions. Because it's character driven, the story moves a bit slow. In fact, the development of characters happens a lot in description and no so much in deeds until further into the book. So, it isn't a surprise when the wicked cousin does/says something quite selfish and, well, wicked.

The magic interweaves the story with a bit of tension that keeps the pages turning. Again, the pace is slow, but that is to help the reader really care about what happens to the characters and for wicked cousin Valerie's comeuppance. In some places it is a bit melodramatic, and other places the author flips points of view that is distracting in a lot of ways.

I personally dislike it when head jumping has no transitions. When you are in one character's POV and next page you are in a different character's POV can be very unsettling with no smooth transition. It's almost better the head hop within a scene because at least you have a point of reference.

I like the book. Don't have a desire to read it again as I do with Georgette Heyer's romances and Jane Austin's. So, it's just my opinion.

3 of 5 stars.

Thanks to Netgalley to St. Martin's Publishing for the book in exchange for my honest review.

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The Beautiful Ones by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

Pros: some interesting twists, great characters

Cons: somewhat predictable

Antonina Beaulieu is a rich 19 year old from the country, joining her cousin and his wife, Valerie, in the city of Loisail for the Grand Season. Quick to speak her mind and unable to remember proper city etiquette or the names of important society members, Nina also has telekinetic abilities, her poor control of which has caused her problems in the past. When she meets the telekinetic performer Hector Auvray at a party, they quickly grow closer and her dreams of a romantic marriage seem assured.

But Hector has a past with Valerie, the beautiful woman who criticizes Antonina’s failings at every turn. And his attentions towards Nina aren’t what they seem.

For the most part the book's plot follows the traditional category romance beats. Set in a fantasy world that mimics the late 1800s/early 1900s, it reminded me at times of Jane Austen’s Persuasion and at others of Mary Robinette Kowal’s Shades of Milk and Honey.

The characters were wonderful. I started off the book liking everyone, even people I probably wasn’t supposed to. Though I knew Hector’s initial interest in Nina wasn’t real, I still liked him and thought that having your heart broken by a ‘good’ guy is better than some alternatives. I even felt some pity for Valerie, forced to marry someone for money to help her family despite having met the love of her life. The personal motivations and actions of the characters felt honest and the fallout of their decisions, earned.

While telekinesis isn’t a major part of the story, it does come up fairly often and it’s great seeing Nina learn more control over her abilities.

I really enjoyed this.

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Antonina Beaulieu, called Nina, travels to the city of Loisail to stay with her wealthy cousin Gaetan Beaulieu and his wife Valérie, who leads her through her first Grand Season with an iron hand. Nina is a country girl from a wealthy family but lacks the sophistication Valérie insists upon, and her erratic telekinetic powers only make Valérie angrier. When Nina meets the celebrated entertainer, Hector Auvray, she finds a kindred spirit who shares the same odd talent. Hector courts her as a ploy to get close to Valérie, whom he still loves despite her breaking their engagement years ago.

This world of parties, balls, calling cards and formal manners reminded me of Edith Wharton’s novels, even more so when the cracks in polite society begin to show. Ms. Moreno-Garcia surrounds her characters with lavish surroundings, furnishings, clothes, and jewelry. She shows readers the minefield of Belle Epoque manners, where a walk in the park at the wrong hour can set tongues wagging for days. Valérie is a queen of society; a tastemaker envied by her peers, but her displays of wealth mask her inner world, just as Nina’s unsophisticated manners hide a great intelligence and a kind heart. This technique beautifully underscores the characters, the milieu, and the plot.

Then, there is the question of telekinesis. This one drop of the fantastic kept me guessing how it fit into the story as a whole, and I wondered if it was simply a bit of clever characterization. It’s introduced as something out-of-the-ordinary and certainly unusual, but not worthy of fear or derision. Unless, of course, you’re a woman. Hector has made a fine living as a showman, and while he doesn’t have a noble name, his wealth and fame buy him a place in Loisail society. Nina was born into wealth, but her talent is likened to childish temper tantrums and has earned her a bad reputation and reprimands. Hector agrees to tutor her to teach her to control it, and the flush of Nina’s first crush begins.

The romantic entanglements of the main characters revolve around social class and wealth—or the lack of it. There are moments where Nina realizes her experience is nothing like the starry-eyed novels she’s read, and I found those delightful. Fairy-tale romance is fiction, and in Loisail, brides are traded like commodities to maintain their family’s position or to save the pride of fine families driven into poverty. That tension between arranged marriages and true love is one of the driving forces that bring the novel to a satisfying conclusion.

My main complaint about the book is purely subjective. For the first half of the novel, the setting and the drama of manners was interesting, but moved slowly and was easy to put down after a chapter or two. However, the second part is more exciting, with new conflicts, conspiracies, and danger on the horizon. That was the spark I needed to forge a connection to the characters and take sides in the conflict. The slow escalation of tension and consequences was well worth the wait.

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When you think of a sci-fi or fantasy book you tend to think of quick paced action and obvious differences or powers in the world you're reading about. What Silvia Moreno Garcia gives you instead is a beautifully constructed realm that blends and bends reality so closely with telekinetic powers that you'd hardly notice if they were there or not. You come into her story feeling as though you've missed a previous book, but that serves you later on. The Beautiful Ones has a lot of subtext, a lot of the story is unsaid, but you pick up on things as you read. The romance aspect of this novel is entertaining though. At one point it feels like a quadrangle instead of your typical triangle, or perhaps a circle? The imagery is beautifully described, and the characters feel real and well developed; at times even causing the reader to feel sympathy for the devil. And while each even happens in a long succession from the one before it, each serves the purpose of the story. I'd love to see another book or two in this world, the slow boil method really works here.

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I think this was another case of “It’s not you, it’s me.” This book was beautifully written, the characters were well-developed and complex, and the plot was totally cohesive. But, I still didn’t love this as much as I wanted to. Don’t get me wrong, I liked it a lot. It just didn’t grab like I’d hoped.

One of the reasons for this is probably the romance. I knew going into this book that there was going to be a lot of romance. And I was in the mood for a nice little romance, so that was totally fine with me (I’m not often in the mood for romances, so I wanted to wait until I was ready). But I also thought there was going to be more magic to balance out the romance. There was a little bit of magic, and what was there was really cool. But magic had a very small part in this book. So between the reeealllyyy heavy romance, and the severe lack of magic, I was left feeling a little disappointed.

Also, the characters. I’ll admit, I really liked Nina a lot. She was by far, one of my favorites. But the rest? Eh, not so much. Hector grew on me and I ended up liking him by the end. Everyone else just kind of drove me crazy. Especially Valérie, who was just too much for my taste. But, I will say that everyone seemed to stay true to their development and I enjoyed learning the back stories for each character. Like I said, the development of the characters was so well done. I just didn’t care for the end result in some cases.

All that being said, I did like this book. The world created was so much fun and fascinating. I loved the mixture of magic and a sort of Victorian-England-inspired world. Anyone who’s a fan of those sweeping BBC romance shows (think Poldark, or Downton Abbey) could probably appreciate this book quite a bit. I might have had some issues with parts of it, but I’m still really glad I picked this book up.

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DNF at 23%. Perhaps another time, another state of mind will prove better for this unusual book. I loved the description, loved the alternative setting, but the mores of a slower, tedious time simply grated. I don't want to read a book where I want to shake every single one of the characters; give me someone to like. I had high hopes because of the telekinesis aspect, and the fact that the cover looked similar to the Paper Magician series.

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I have been listlessly staring at my bookshelves (and random piles of books around the house, who am I kidding) for months now, hoping for one of those books. I was looking for a book that would necessitate a break from reading, just so I could take the time to collect myself and my emotions afterward. I wanted a story and characters that I could really delve into, snuggling into their perspectives and thoughts and dreams.

The Beautiful Ones, written by Silvia Moreno-Garcia, was that book. Moreno-Garcia masterfully spun this story, giving each character their own unique voice and building a world that I could not look away from. Is the world mostly involved with the interactions of high-class society, and the small details that define that world? Absolutely. The minimal focus on long-winded descriptions and subtle world building allowed the characters and their interpersonal interactions with one another to shine and gave them the prominence they deserved.

Oh, how I loved this book. I delighted with Nina as she explored her new world of the Grand Season, happily making friends with Hector and testing the limits of what Valerie would allow her to do. I wallowed with Hector in his distractions, not even very bothered by the decade-long love affair that had stretched on a little longer than might be believable for this skeptic’s mind. And, of course, Valerie–I thoroughly enjoyed the changing nuance of her emotions, both spiteful and fraught with more pleasant memories, as she revealed more and more of herself over the course of the novel.

This novel was extremely character driven and Moreno-Garcia did a fabulous job of giving each character their own voice, their own desires and motivations, wants and needs. I was invested in each one, in seeing how they’d fall apart and put themselves back together–or not, or put someone else back together, or fall apart again. Their choices shaped the consequences that they had to face and answered the question of who will save them, over and over again.

(Of course, the dramatic tension was only helped by the fact that I started this book immediately before getting corrective eye surgery, and was forced not to read for a whole week in between. Talk about torture!)

But please, if you enjoy a foray into a sumptuous, decadent world with an utterly captivating love story, please read this book. I fell in love, and hope you do, too.

The Beautiful Ones, written by Silvia Moreno-Garcia will be published on October 24th, 2017 by Thomas Dunne Books. Many thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy.

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Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher, St. Martin's, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I've heard great things about Silvia Moreno-Garcia, certain great things about her book Certain Dark Things (see what I did there???). I haven't had a chance yet to read it, though I did buy it earlier this year to read, but when I saw this on Netgalley, I had to give it a shot. Telekinesis talked about as if it's relatively normal in this world? Sounds fun to me.

Well, here's the deal... if you're going into this expecting more of an urban fantasy or paranormal romance, you're in for a surprise. The telekinesis aspect, while it plays an important role in the development and relationship between two of the three main characters, is really a tiny part of the story. This book is mostly historical romance, a genre that I typically don't pick up except on rare occasion. So the telekinesis almost felt like it was there to trick me into reading something I normally wouldn't.

...and I'm glad it did. I ended up loving the book! Three compelling main characters, all broken in their own ways. Two of them fight to find something more, and one of them is one of the most despicable and cold and heartless characters I've seen on the page -- but she made for a great villain. Nina, though, stole my heart. She reminded me a lot of myself, and that made for an excellent read as I saw her grow and develop.

There were a few times the pacing felt a little off, and I would have liked a little more of the powers, but those are minor complaints about a really compelling read. I'm glad I took a chance on this. I can't wait now for Certain Dark Things, because if she does for vampires what she did for historical romance with a tinge of the supernatural, then I'm in for a treat.

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Terrifyingly handsome and distressingly beautiful are two phrases that best describe this magical romance. The Beautiful Ones follows Nina and Hector, two telekinetics who are drawn to each other during the Belle Epoque. Nina's cousin, Valerie, however, has a lot of stake in their relationship and will stop at nothing to keep the lovers apart.

The prose in this work really whisks the reader away into a gorgeous reimagining of French high society. There was enough attention to detail around the outfits and rituals that really grounded the reader in the setting. It truly brought the characters to life.

Valerie was such a great villain, to the point that I almost wanted her to succeed. Her plot arc was so carefully crafted. It was easy to see her point of view while at the same understanding Nina and Hector. These interactions masterfully give a sense of the rules of the world but also drive the story forward with excellent pace.

I had one minor gripe with the world-building and that was an implication that more people had the talent. It seemed commonplace enough that Hector and Nina weren't persecuted for it, but greater detail there would have rounded out the world more.

The Beautiful Ones is an enchanting read with gorgeous characters in a wonderful setting that will keep you engaged until the very end.

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https://lynns-books.com/2017/10/19/the-beautiful-ones-by-silvia-moreno-garcia/
The first book I read by Silvia Moreno-Garcia was Certain Dark Things, which I loved. It was dark and full of vampire myth, a gritty urban fantasy that I couldn’t put down and a world and cast of characters that I would gladly return to. The Beautiful Ones is a completely different read – which, basically should be obvious to anybody really given the blurb and the cover – I knew it was going to be unlike my first read by this author so that wasn’t a surprise at all, however, if you’re picking this one up thinking it’s going to maybe have a dangerous edge then I can tell you now that isn’t the case.

If I was going to try and give you a very quick idea of what this one is like I would compare it to one of the classics, the first one that springs to mind being Pride and Prejudice – because there certainly is an element of la-di-da society and etiquette is paramount. But, if I was going to be really honest I’d more liken this to Wuthering Heights – except in the style of Jane Austen and with paranormal elements thrown in for good measure. I did enjoy this but I really think that you have to pick it up with the right expectations. Basically, this is a period romance, carried out in polite society where the paranormal elements are really only an aside to the story rather than a key element. I enjoyed it, I thought the characters were very well drawn and it seems to highlight for me that in Moreno-Garcia we have an author who isn’t prepared to be defined by one style and is more than happy to give her writing abilities a good workout.

I won’t really elaborate too much on the plot. Nina Beaulieu is about to enter her first Season with the help of her beautiful but rather cold sister in law Valerie. Nina is a little unrefined in some respects – or she’s the Country mouse to Valerie’s polished City mouse. She’s also a little bit unusual in that she has telekinetic powers and has in the past had a few mishaps due to her lack of control that have fed the gossip mill. I liked Nina, she wasn’t afraid to be different, in fact she didn’t see anything wrong in her abilities and found all the gossip and whisperings, not to mention the ‘dos’ and ‘don’ts’ a little bit stifling. She didn’t try to hide her abilities, in fact she wholeheartedly tried to discover more about how to improve her ability, and she’s very blunt – well, in terms of the society that she moves in at least.

Nina actively seeks out the company of Hector Auvray. Hector is a performer, risen from very poor beginnings his abilities have led to immeasurable wealth and fame and although he isn’t one of the upper class he is grudgingly permitted to socialise with them. It doesn’t hurt that he’s fairly easy on the eye. Pretty soon Hector begins to court Nina and she in turn begins to fall a little bit in love never realising that Hector has ulterior motives.

Valerie, Nina’s sister in law, put me in mind, in some respects, to Lady Blakeney from the Scarlet Pimpernell – she’s very polished, beautiful and a socialite that everyone mimics but, scratch the surface and she has a hidden past. Unlike Lady Blakeney, Valerie’s beautiful facade hides a rather bitter and twisted soul. Scheming and machinations are second nature to her and she has no qualms about using Nina to further her own ambitions.

This isn’t a fast paced novel, there isn’t a good deal of mystery involved, it definitely falls into the land of romance and on top of that we end up with a love triangle! And yet, in spite of that I found myself enjoying this more than I expected. I was always keen to pick it back up and it has this lovely sense of build up. You can see that everything’s going to go horribly wrong and you just want people to take a minute to calm down and think things through – but, I guess that wouldn’t help the story along now would it.

Ultimately I had a good time with this book. It’s probably unfair to compare it to my previous read by this author but nobody every said life was fair and, no, this one doesn’t top Certain Dark things for me personally. However, it’s entertaining, fun and the writing is solid. If you like paranormal, period romances (not, I hasten to add a bodice ripper) with well developed characters then I would definitely recommend this. It’s a bit of a no brainer for me as I’ve always liked the classics and this one just has that edge of difference that intrigued me enough to want to give it a shot.

I received a copy of this through Netgalley, courtesy of the publisher, for which my thanks. The above is my own opinion

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The Beautiful Ones was a unique story with well-developed and genuine characters. Each one layered in realistic human emotion and flaws. The problem was, their flaws outnumbered their strengths and I ended up disliking every last one of them. There were not two, but three main characters in this tale.

Hector, a man whose adult life has been completely consumed by the heartbreak his first love.

Antonina, a young and naive girl who is entirely too trusting and oblivious to the true nature of the people around her.

Valérie, a vicious and bitter woman whose stunning outer beauty does not match the festering ugliness of her heart.

The story is set in the city of Loisail, in what appears to be the late 1800s during the Grand Season. This was the marriage mart of the time where the Beautiful Ones (translation: the snooty, old money crowd) mingled and frowned upon basically everything. We are introduced to Hector, a wealthy man who came from nothing and earned every dime of his fortune using his gift of telekinesis. Known worldwide for his amazing tricks, he's proven himself to be a success. Except in matters of the heart. When his love and trust was cruelly betrayed years ago, it kindled a fire inside of him that never cooled. After a chance meeting with Nina, he sees an opportunity to make use of this sweet and unsophisticated girl. A deception that was doomed from the start to blow up in his face, which it did, and magnificently.

Nina had a lot of quirky qualities that I enjoyed. She was socially awkward, full of joy and energy, showed an utter disregard for etiquette and social niceties, and had a love of beetles that was quite cute. I tried to like her, and at times, she really was charming. But the fact that I knew she was being duped so cruelly from page one didn't do my impression of her any favors. She conveyed herself as a blushing, giggling girl that couldn't see past her infatuation or her eternal optimism.

Valérie was a despicable human being. In the beginning, you can almost sympathize with her in a way. Knowing how she gave up her youthful hopes of romance, and her own happiness for that of her family, you can't help but feel pity. But her selfish nature isn't helped by her husband's coddling and amiable moods. If anything, it feeds into her bitterness and rage.

As the book wore on, she grew progressively more selfish, vindictive, and every bit of empathy she had gained from me evaporated in the wind. She started to teeter on the edge of sanity, and at this point all I wanted was for her to be squashed like one of the pretty insects that Nina so lovingly collected. She was VILE.

The Beautiful Ones was what I would classify as a historical romance with hints of fantasy (due to the telekinesis element). This was a very small fraction of the book, and I must admit I was hoping that it would be heavier on the fantasy. I enjoyed seeing Nina and Hector's abilities come out, but it was not integral to the overall plot. The characters were well written, but were lost inside the slow moving pace, and not entirely likable for me personally. It took me quite a while to warm up to Hector at all, as he so carelessly played with Nina's tender trust for so long. Eventually, he did experience growth, and there was some groveling involved, but did I love him? No, he never made it to that point.

Silvia Moreno-Garcia's writing was beautifully done, and her style was one that I could see myself enjoying with a future story. I'd recommend this book to readers who enjoy a slow burn historical romance.

*Told in Third-Person Omniscient POV*

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Genuinely enjoyed this little book! Would recommend for any fan of ya to pick it up!

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This is a tough book to review because the summary and the beginning of the book imply that the book is something that it isn't. I almost gave up on the book a third of the way through or so as it turned into what it actually is. I did end up enjoying it by the end, but the second half of the first part careens towards disaster with everyone but the villain ending up unhappy, it can be tough to forge forward. The main characters are likeable, but they can be summed up fairly easily in one sentence blurbs, and I feel like Nina didn't really grow that much beyond accepting that life isn't like novels. It isn't sure if it wants to hit the notes of a genre work or try to play something original, and ends up a muddled, if eventually enjoyable, work.

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After reading and loving Certain Dark Things, I had no doubt I would read whatever Moreno-Garcia published next. That turned out to be The Beautiful Ones. Just from the synopsis I could tell it would be incredibly different from the vampire underground world created in Certain Dark Things, but I have to confess, I was hoping to still find a bit of that darkness in The Beautiful Ones. Well, I can’t say I found this to be dark like that, and will advise you that you can not read this book looking for world or tone similarities to Certain Dark Things. Moreno-Garcia did create great characters in both, that is the main similarities end.

As opposed to most of the books I read, the romance aspect was the strongest plot point in this book. You can also find character growth, and a lesson to embrace who you are, etc. But ultimately, this book was about relationships and romance. I am not stating that as a negative, honestly, sometimes its nice to read a book like that. But I like to know ahead of time so I can save it for when the mood strikes, so keep that in mind if you only read and enjoy romance centered books sporadically.

The magic in this book consists of telekinetic powers that are rare within the world. Nina, one of our POVs as well as the one I would consider the central character, is cursed with these telekinetic powers. Untrained, she can not control them, and they manifest at times of stress. She has earned a negative reputation in town as a result, and is pretty much considered “damaged goods“, since her ability is considered a liability and undesirable for a woman.

Hector, another of our POVs, also has telekinetic powers. Lucky for him, as a man, he can use his powers in a way that is not frowned upon by society. He is successful travelling performer, using his powers to create breathtaking spectacles. He may not have quite the same social standing as nobility, but he does earn enough money to rival them and garner a level of respect. He may not be one of them, but he is welcome among them.

When Hector takes an interest in courting Nina, his motivations are not entirely honest. The book is not a fast paced thriller, but a slow burn that explores relationships and trust, as well as acceptance for who you are. I enjoyed reading about Nina and watch her learn to not be ashamed of the magic that is just a part of her. If you are in the mood for a character and relationship driven book with a bit of romance and heartbreak, then this is worth checking out.

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This is not going to be a book for everyone but give it a try if you like historical romance and a touch of the paranormal in your love stories. It's hard to characterize because it's set in somewhat of an alternate universe in France (sort of) among the aristocracy, some of whom have telekinetic powers. Hector, a performer, has been away from the city but arrives back just as Antonina is being groomed for her debut but not for her powers. There are echoes of the Brontes and Austen and some more contemporary authors as well but this is unique. It's quite character drive (aka it can be slow in spots) but the people, especially Antonina are engaging and it was so different that I kept reading to see how it would turn out. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. I don't know which genre this best fits with- it's characterized as sci-fi-fi but it's not really that at all. It's a worthy diversionary read.

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