An intriguing and promising start: definitely something I'd like to keep reading to see what unfolds next!

This was just a SNEAK PEEK, but I did enjoy it and I want to read it!
I just love a good gothic and darkly rich book.

This one follows Celine, a girl fleeing from Paris to New Orleans after committing a dark deed. So it does explore feminism, about women striking out against cultural oppression, about racism and abuse of power, and legacy and murder.

I want to real more!

Thank you Netgalley for the chance to read this sampler of The Beautiful.

I normally don't read vampire novels just from the over hype of Twilight and the poorly written plots of other novels. However I was intrigued by Celine Rousseau and her mysterious background---is she or isn't she a murderer? After fleeing from a sorted past, Celine is looking forward to becoming a dressmaker in the ever vibrant New Orleans. The story is set in 1872 where the world is spinning wildly and a deadly killer of young women hunt the streets. Unaware of the danger lurking in the night, Celine is determined to make her dream of dressmaker come true and after a run in with a mysterious and otherworldly man, she isn't too sure what path she might be walking on.

Celine's character does come off as reckless and more than a bit selfish, especially since she's suppose to be playing it safe and not drawing attention to herself, The main point that is pulling me to wanting more is the creepy narration given by the killer. The writing while not immediately enticing does draw you in to want to know how this story ends; looking forward to reading the rest of the book to see how Celine's story and past are revealed.

I really enjoyed this book. The sample was the perfect size for me to try out this book and read something by the author, Renee Ahdieh. As a result, I purchased "The Beautiful". Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to sample this book!

Ahdieh has a beautiful writing style, and took a risk diving into vampires for ya. It paid off, because we are seeing a new generation coming and a resurgence of paranormal ya fiction.

The sneak peek make me want to read the whole book. it is on my to be read.
Look forward to buy it!

I feel as if I'm late to the party, but I'm definitely here for this series now that I've read this sneak peak. New Orleans, vampires, carnival, romance. Oui, bien sûr.

I downloaded this sneak peek to determine whether or not I wanted to commit to the series and read The Righteous.

Suffice to say, I was so intrigued with the story that I went out and bought the book! I look forward to finishing the book and seeing what happens.

I have to say, I love the NOLA setting. I can see where the book might be slow-paced for some people, but I love the build-up! I feel like I’m waiting for this world to unravel so that I can figure out all of its mysteries. As always, I am a fan of this author and grateful that I had the chance to download this. Thank you for the opportunity to get acquainted with this series!

I liked this book but I had a hard time getting into it. It was a slow start but overall I enjoyed it. I love that it took place in New Orleans, and I love most vampire books. I loved that the French language was used throughout the book. I can't wait to read the next book in this series.

I just read a sneak peek of this book. As many of us, I already heard a lot about this book and this serie.
But I never took this step to go further. Mainly because...vampires! Don't get me wrong, I'm all in for a good vampire story, but since a while we've been drown under so many books about vampires that I kind of lost interest.
So... after all this time not knowing, I finally did it! I must say I found the writing very lovely, with a lot of sensory vocabulary which made the city of New Orleans come to life to me in a pretty realistic way.
Céline's story is intriguing, or rather the holes in her story make it intriguing.
Of course... a beautiful stranger had to come in the game. Speak about intrigue...
The first part definitively made me want to know more.

Really enjoyed this preview for what promises to be an interesting book! There is a lot of intriguing set up here, with the murder and the mysterious 'Court'!

I loved meeting Celine and am eager to learn more about her and her dark past. She has a delightfully dry wit and isn't afraid to stand up for herself.

This is my first Renée Ahdieh and now I can't wait to read more by her!

I thought I was requesting the full book but this was just an excerpt. From the little I read it has intrigued me and made me want to read the full book. I loved her other books, her writing and world building is truly magical

Ahdieh is a new author to me but I fell in love with her writing in this sample. I loved the way she set up all the separate mysteries, everything was very intriguing and I now have a lot of questions that I need the answers too!

I already really like the character of Celine, she seems like a strong minded young and I'm interested in her journey to try and escape her dark past.

I do agree with another review that the side character Pippa seemed to have a personality change halfway through this sample. I'm hoping that's cleared up in the final copy because it did make me question the writing a bit.

This preview definitely has me interested in the rest of the book though and I cannot wait to read more about Celine and the mysterious Court!

I definitely feel interested enough to continue with this book. The only thing that really confused me was Pippa's personality. At first she was described as a free spirit and had a bit of a sassy side but then apparently she's pious and a stickler for rules? Hopefully that's cleared up in the full finished version.

My Thoughts:

Renée Ahdieh bring vampires back to New Orleans and I'm hooked! Not since Anne Rice have the New Orleans vampires been so beautiful and captivating. Ahdieh knows how to weave a binge worthy romance series. This is a must have for the YA classroom or library. Swoony, sumptuous, sultry, hot. Oh my.

From the Publisher:
In 1872, New Orleans is a city ruled by the dead. But to seventeen-year-old Celine Rousseau, New Orleans is a safe haven after she's forced to flee her life as a dressmaker in Paris. Taken in by the sisters of the Ursuline convent in the middle of the carnival season, Celine is quickly enraptured by the vibrant city, from its music to its fancy soirées and even its danger. She becomes embroiled in the city's glitzy underworld, known as La Cour des Lions, after catching the eye of the group's enigmatic leader, Sébastien Saint Germain.

When the body of one of the girls from the convent is found in Sébastien's own lair--the second dead girl to turn up in recent weeks--Celine battles her attraction to Sébastien and suspicions about his guilt along with the shame of her own horrible secret.

After a third murder, New Orleans becomes gripped by the terror of a serial killer on the loose--one who has now set Celine in his sights. As the murderer stalks her, Celine finally takes matters into her own hands, only to find herself caught in the midst of an age-old feud between the darkest creatures of the night, where the price of forbidden love is her life.

At once a sultry romance and a decadent, thrilling mystery, master storyteller Renée Ahdieh embarks on her most potent fantasy series yet.

This preview was really interested and I'm curious about the rest of the book. The writing style is interesting and the worldbuilding seems fairly solid.

This sneak peek was very intriguing! The narration style was great, and I'm already interested in the characters and story. Right off the bat you're submerged in the world, and it gets right to the action, which I appreciate!

I'll definitely be picking up this book!

I really liked this book and am glad I picked it up. I couldn’t remember what it was about and basically read it because I really like this author. I’m glad I ended up really liking it and now need to read the next one. Though it does have a bit of a love triangle, but it’s pretty one sided.

NetGalley "The Beautiful" – Renee Ahdieh (Sneak Peek)

Thank you to @NetGalley, Random House and Author @ReneeAhdieh for the sneak peek copy of the review of The Beautiful, I am leaving this review voluntarily.

We’re following Celiene, French, who is running from a transgression back in Paris. Celiene arrives in NOLA to help in a convent in exchange for match with a suitable gentleman.

But Celiene is wild, wilful and ready for an adventure… but has she already drawn the wrong attention?

As mentioned – this was a sneak peek excerpt from NetGalley.

This book has promise and intrigue.

3.5 stars

#Teen #YoungAdult #YA #Vampire #Shadows #Seductive #NewOrleans #VampireRomance #Murder #Mystery #Romanc

This will be my honest review in exchange for the sample of the eARC “The Beautiful” that was very kindly sent to me by NetGalley, since I have the physical book I would make a complete review.

This is a historic romance with the gothic ambience of New Orleans in 1872.
We have 2 perspectives, which we read along the book, alternating between each other, which made the book very intriguing, urging me to find out who gave us one of the perspectives.
On one side we have the vision and description of murders that are happening. The other narrative is from our protagonist young lady, called Celine, a dressmaker from Paris that ran and got refuge in a convent where she pretends to stay to hide from her past. She’s rapidly sucked into the dark underworld of this city, intrigued by the amount of killings that are happening.

People assume there’s a serial killer on the loose, and Celine might be the next.
Something very positive about this character is that I can feel she is a strong person, not the usual naive girl that needs assistance.” She was no lamb. She was alion.”

The writer makes us emerge into the story by her amazing description and atmospheric writing style, I love to see cultural diversity I’m Portuguese and every time the word Portuguese was mentioned I felt so happy, we can very subliminally see Celine being described has Asian, Michael our detective is Italian has well has the layer being described has Indian, the subject doesn’t make a lot of emphasis but we see the point and why, in that time was happening, turns all the story realistic lightly touching the subject of inclusion and racism, the point of it is that makes me happy and proud to know that I’m supporting writers that deserve it for being so inclusive.

I feel that the book delivered what was promised, we get all the answers to our questions, who is murdering, is there more than just vampires? Etc…
The romance it’s a slow burn which I appreciate gives it another dimension, we feel the tension and attraction. I liked to see how things had to happen between them so far, the intensification of their feelings is plausible.
In all, I feel that the plot wasn’t too complex but the way this book ended left a spark to jump into the next one.
I would like to add that I love when Shakespeare's is used in any story, has a metaphor retelling or has a devotion for a hopeless romantic. I loved this and the fact that brought back my hopes for the vampire novels/ series
#thebeautiful #NetGalley #bookreview #Sneakpeekthebeautiful