I think if you like The Beautiful, then you’ll definitely love this sequel. (Don’t worry, no spoilers - I won’t say too much, since this is the second book).
The Beautiful and The Damned are hauntingly atmospheric fantasy books that feature this little band of misfit characters that give me such strong squad vibes! They’re beautifully written, uniquely crafted, and set themselves apart from similarly themed fantasies. Definitely suggest to fans of VE Schwab and Renee Ahdieh’s previous works.

~slight spoilers below~
For my own personal tastes, I find them a little slow-paced. I finished the first book, thinking the second would win me over. And now I’ve finished the second book, hoping the next will? I think maybe, if I had realized that this wasn’t the end, then I would have enjoyed The Damned a little more. But as I was expecting resolution, being left with more questions than answers, again, I found myself wanting more from this book. But overall, an enjoyable read that I think most fantasy readers would enjoy.

Initial Thoughts

I was SO excited to read this book. I really enjoyed The Beautiful and when Penguin Teen offered me the chance to review this one early, I was like YES, PLEASE!

Some Things I Liked

Different POV. I just loved that Bastien was the first person POV in this book and I really loved how that matched the title. Celine was “the beautiful” and the first person POV in the first book, and Bastien is now “damned” so he’s the main POV in this book. I also liked that we had chapters that followed other characters throughout the story.
BAHHH the love story. Ok, BAHHH is not exactly an articulate way to describe something. But, it’s me basically word vomiting all over this post because I loved it so much. Celine and Bastien are just so perfect and so stubborn and they made for such a great romance read.
Poor Michael. Yes, I list this in things I liked. Michael is ok but, Bastien > Michael all day every day. I hope Michael finds a nice lady in the next book, not Celine. Celine is spoken for. But, I do feel bad for him.
ODETTE – yes, all caps for Odette and how much I loved her as a character. She deserves a series all to herself. She’s so tragic and self-loathing and I love her for it. Where’s her person? Renée Ahdieh, please give Odette a love story!

Series Value

If there is not another book in this series, I do not know what I will do. The ending was so ridiculously open-ended, there can’t not be more. However, I really like the poetry of the names as just “The Beautiful” and “The Damned” – what would Renée Ahdieh even call the next book?

Final Thoughts

I liked The Beautiful but I loved The Damned. The twists, the POVs, Bastien as the primary narrator. The pages literally oozed with drama and I can’t wait for more. Although more is unconfirmed, I will continue to wish for more!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Recommendations for Further Reading

The Wrath and the Dawn by Renée Ahdieh – if you liked the dramatic writing style and the rich descriptions, try Renée’s other series.
A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness – if you liked the supernatural elements of The Beautiful and the various types of beings described, definitely give The All Souls Trilogy by Deborah Harkness a read.

Without a doubt, this is one of the best books I’ve read of 2020. The writing style, as always, was perfect. The character development, within both old and new was phenomenal. The book itself? I couldn’t put it down.

I liked this sequel even more than the first in the series (The Beautiful)! The way that Ahdieh uses first person to reveal the inner struggle of Sebastien and his morality was fascinating to me. I went back to look at my copy of The Beautiful to see if she had used first person in that book as well. I'm very curious to see if this will be continued in the next part of the series.

Beautiful and dark, exquisitely told story that mirrors the brilliance of the first book! The world building and strong characters made this book so worth it.

4 stars

With the way The Beautiful ended, I immediately picked up The Damned. (thank you, publishers, for letting me read it early) And I was not disappointed. Renée Ahdieh knows how to write, she paints such gorgeous pictures with her words.

It should be said how much I enjoyed the relationships of this book. I was in awe of Celine and Pippa's friendship. It is exactly what a friendship should be. They care so deeply for each other and you can see that. But Bastien and Celine, I adored them so much. Both individually and together, they are wonderful characters.

I don’t want to spoil things as usual so I can’t say much. But just know this book is magical and if you have a love for vampires, then read this book!

Nothing is confirmed as of yet, but I do hope there will be more books coming. I am not ready to let go of these characters or this world.

Thank you to PenguinTeen for this advanced copy to read and review. This in no way impacts my review as all thoughts and opinions are my own.

WOW! When I first opened this book I was shocked at how the POV changed. I was so used to that atmospheric third person that It was really overwhelming at first to suddenly be in the minds of our characters. Though, it did not bother me at all. I loved getting to know the intricate workings of of their minds. Renee Ahdieh writes in such a beautiful and attention grabbing way. I always feel like every detail she provides has meaning and helps me understand the world. In book 2, we find Bastien, newly awoken. This book has twists and turns, though I will say, part of the love triangle was a bit predictable, I still loved it. I already had a feeling for which direction this book was going to go and the ending definitely leaves this open for a third book (I HOPE!!!). I don't want to divulge too much as to spoil anything so read The Beautiful and then immediately read The Damned!!

A more detailed review on my blog is to come for this series!

I am a total sucker for anything vampire related. The Damned is definitely an improvement on The Beautiful. It reminds me a lot of the Southern Vampires serious but set in the Victorian era. This installment of the series we are introduced to more magical worlds and creatures. There’s also love, betrayal, family secrets, and inter species battles. If you’re looking for a fantasy novel with impeccable world building and intricate plots this isn’t it. If you want very action driven plot that’s relatively melodramatic and filled with vampire goodness try this. I’m just happy to see vampires taking up most of the book in a series that was hailed as “the vampire come back”. I liked this 3/5 stars.

The Damned is a fantastic sequel; expanding on the world and characters, building on the plot, and answering so many of my questions from the first book.

I absolutely adore Renee Ahdieh’s writing style. I just need to make that clear. It’s beautiful, with so much depth and description. Her dialogue flows perfectly, with great banter and some fun humor. Her writing seems to get better and better with every book.

The setting of this book is another standout aspect. The Beautiful was dark and atmospheric, vague and mysterious, and The Damned is definitely atmospheric, but much less vague. The world-building is much clearer, with the supernatural creatures and their histories explained in depth.

This book answers a lot of questions and leaves you with even more questions. This series is still more character-focused than plot-focused, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t a plot. The Damned seemed a lot more action-packed than The Beautiful, but the pacing is still a little on the slower side. It definitely picks up in the second act, and by the end, there is quite a lot happening at once. Speaking of that ending- yeah I’m still in shock.

Where the focus of The Beautiful was predominately on Celine, The Damned pays much closer attention to Bastien. We barely see Celine until the second act. But, honestly, I didn’t mind- Bastien has such amazing character growth over this book, and so much to deal with, that it never bothered me that Celine was sidelined for a little while. However, she gets some amazing moments as well.

Every character in this book is extremely well developed. This cast of characters is so fun to read about. I would read an entire spin-off series about Odette, Jae, or Arjun, I love them so much.

The first book I had a difficult time getting into. But book two changed my mind on the series! Can’t wait for the next book to come! I’ll be counting the days!

The Damned is the second book in the quartet of this series. I felt that this sequel was ultimately unnecessary. The first half of the book was interesting enough. The different point-of-views and each character dealing with what had happened at the end of The Beautiful. I appreciated that everyone was dealing with their own issues.

There is a clear parallel to Twilight. There’s a vampire love-interest, and a wolf love interest for the main women character. While I enjoyed the New Orleans setting in the first book, I found it distracting from the main story this time around. The pacing seemed off this time around. Especially with the rush into high fantasy about halfway through the story. I was disappointed with the rushed plot and poorly developed setting. Overall, this book is a pass for me.

I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

Where do I even begin with this book?! First: I think I need to mention is how much better this was than book 1. There was so much more to the story, I was hooked from the beginning, so many twists I didn't see coming, and more paranormal creatures are featured... We now get to see fae! I am absolutely enamored and obsessed with New Orleans - the culture and history is just so fascinating to me. Then throw in a historical, paranormal YA series!? YES PLEASE!

"Last night, I loved and lived. Tonight, I dance in a ring with Death."


One of my favorite things about reading is highlighting favorites scenes/quotes... Y'all. I highlighted this book so many freaking times. Holy moly! I can hands down say this was so much better than book 1 and after hearing that this won't be a duet (thank goodness - because it can't end like that), it made me even more excited. I'm not ready to say goodbye to this historical YA paranormal series!

"Love is a strange beast. It is not so different from fear. Both make us feel uncertain and on edge."

A bewitching sequel filled with shocking twists at every turn. Every bit as dark & delicious as the first 🖤

“Sébastien Saint Germain is now cursed and forever changed. The treaty between the Fallen and the Brotherhood has been broken, and war between the immortals seems imminent. The price of loving Celine was costly. But Celine has also paid a high price for loving Bastien.

Still recovering from injuries sustained during a night she can’t quite remember, her dreams are troubled. And she doesn’t know she has inadvertently set into motion a chain of events that could lead to her demise and unveil a truth about herself she’s not quite ready to learn.

Forces hiding in the shadows have been patiently waiting for this moment for centuries. And just as Bastien and Celine begin to uncover the danger around them, they learn their love could tear them apart.”

I-I-

I have no words. No words left in me. No words left in me to convey the depths of my tumultuous emotions. No words left in me, which I desperately need to write this review. There is nothing but blatant shock. Of the highest order.

I AM A STRESSFUL BAG OF BONES.

The book picks up right where The Beautiful left off, and let me tell you: Renee Ahdieh doesn’t ease you into the glittery swimming pool of pain. She slam dunks you into it. You will hurt. You might rage a little bit. You might even fight to contain your pterodactyl screeches in public places...Like someone else I know.

SO many questions. SO many things to absorb in that ending. SO many unexpected turns. Is there going to be a spin-off? Another book?? Obviously, I can’t say more without spoiling it, but PIPPA? This book was filled with so many unexpected twists and turns. That last 10% chunk...My dudes, you won’t be ready.

The shocking reveals, the false trails. The amazing friendship moments! I adore Pippa and Celine’s relationship. They compliment each other so well, and challenge each other in the way that friends should challenge one another. I also loved the multiple POVs in this book! This world contains such a vast cast of characters, so to be able to read from their perspectives and see the world through their eyes was so rewarding 🖤

Especially Bastien’s. It was so nice to spend more time with him this time around. We got to see the inner workings of the Court that he has grown up in, the backstories of his mysterious guardians. It was so complex, and truly captivating. We also got to see him develop, and his journey to become a better man throughout this book. It truly was inspiring.

And the romance??? My god, it hurt so good. The agony. The long-distance pining! What else can I say that hasn’t already been said? I love Celine and Bastien.

For the story as a whole, there were a few problematic elements, and we kind of stepped away from that gothic New Orleans vibes that I loved so much about the first one - but this continuation was nothing less than entertaining!

Because this is a sequel, there’s not much I can say without spoiling it for those who haven’t read it yet, so let me just say this:

The world will entice you. The plot twists will give you whiplash (in the best way). And the romance will consume you.

Vampires are back. Thank you, Renee Ahdieh 🖤

P.S. Arjun + Pippa = I ship it.

A huge thank you to Penguin Teen for gifting me with this ARC!

Although The Damned wasn't quite what I expected, I still really enjoyed it! The Damned alternates between several perspectives, and I love the way Ahdieh gives the reader so much insight into her characters' feelings and motivations. As always, Celine is easy to root for; she's brave and hopeful in the face of some dark truths. I was pleasantly surprised to see Jae's perspective and backstory developed. Although much of his story is reflective, I appreciated that he was more than a ruthless assassin.

On the other hand, the character-focused nature of the book, especially in the first half, resulted in the feeling that little is happening. When the plot does start to move along, it moves so quickly, and in a direction that I didn't anticipate at all. There is so much that is revealed, and it really expanded the scope of the story. I expected there to be a stronger focus on the fierce rivalry between vampires and werewolves, but I'm sure Ahdieh is planning on weaving all the threads together in the next book. I look forward to it!

I'm gonna start out and say that I did not expect to enjoy this as much as I did. I didn't really enjoy The Beautiful all that much and was expecting more of the same here. Boy am I glad to be completely wrong!

The ending of The Beautiful brought heartbreak to us all. Betrayal and murder in the worst way. Nicodemus struck a deal with Celine to save Bastien in trade for all of her memories of him. She did it to save him and lost it all. Bastien hates himself when he wakes up a vampire.

Celine starts remembering anyway. She knows that Bastien means something to her, even if she can't figure out why. The holes in her memories drive her mad. The truth about that is another twist I didn't see coming.

This book is fantastic! I can't say much more than that because I don't want to spoil anything for anyone. But know that if you liked the last half of The Beautiful, you will love where it goes from there ❤

The Damned was such a delightful sequel to enchanting The Beautiful. I am truly in awe of the lush, mysterious and dark wold that Renee Ahdieh has created with these books. I devoured The Damned, an instant five star read for me!

Last year when I read The Beautiful, it easily became one of my favorite reads and I was eager for the sequel and I can say with confidence that it was worth the wait, The Damned was something that exceeded every expectation I had.

Everyone who loved The Beautiful or who is new to the series, will be charmed by The Damned. I loved it so much and I cannot wait for what is next. I never want it to end!

The Beautiful was a favorite book of mine last year so I was honored and excited when @penguinteen and @netgalley gave me the opportunity to read this book early!
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The Damned dives right in to answer all your questions that The Beautiful left you with! This book, while still taking place in New Orleans, has a different feeling than The Beautiful and doesn’t have the intense romance, although the tension is still there.
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It is told from multiple POVs but I felt like it was Sebastian’s story. Watching his journey in this book made me admire him even more as a strong MC.
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The book also expands the current world building and brings in a whole new element to the world (there were some twists for sure. ) This creates a deeper background for the series and will allow for more expanse in book three.
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I further enjoyed the development of Celine’s character, as well as, her friendship with Pippa. Odette continued to be one of my favorite characters and I loved getting to know Jae & Ahrun better!
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As always I enjoyed the lyrical writing style and the seamless way @reneeahdieh can weave together worlds. I will definitely be waiting for the next book in the series. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫/5

Fans of Renée Ahdieh’s The Beautiful don’t have to wait any longer! The second installment in the series, entitled The Damned, is out today and takes fans back into the supernatural world that hides beneath the surface of New Orleans, Louisiana.
This sequel provided a more varied look at the story and, while it picked up where The Beautiful left off, diverted in terms of where I thought the plotline was going to go. The multiple POVs allowed for more secrets to be revealed and really helps the reader get enveloped in the story a bit more. However, I was hoping for a bit more in the forbidden romance side of this book, but instead got more fantasy in the form of a lot more mythology and politics.
The first half of the novel really focuses on Bastien and how he grapples with his new lease on life however the second half suddenly shifts into more of an attempt to build a fantasy world beyond New Orleans. And whatever turn you think this story is going to take: think again. Plot twist after plot twist occurs and Celine, Bastien, and The Court of Lions find themselves involved in more trouble than initially seems possible.
Fair warning: there is a LOT that happens in this novel, so beware of an information overload as the supernatural world gets explored a bit more. Readers learn more about the Sylvan Vale, Sylvan Wyld, The Brotherhood, and other creatures that stay hidden from the eyes of mortals. Hopefully, a third book will be planned and released soon, because Ahdieh leaves us with even more questions than answers at the end of this book!
While I enjoyed the second installment in the series, it seems like Ahdieh wanted to use this book as a jumping point for a possible third book and introduce new plotlines instead of developing the ones already put in place. I look forward to seeing what will happen next to Celine, Bastien, and everyone else as things start to shift in their world.

*I received an ARC from PenguinTeen in exchange for my honest opinion.

I've been sitting on this book for about a week now trying to think of what I want to say about it. I guess first I will start off by saying thank you to NetGalley for providing a free eARC of the book to read in exchange for an honest review. I did find that I liked The Damned more than I did The Beautiful. I think this is because my expectations were much lower. Part of the reason I found so much fault with The Beautiful was that it was so overly hyped up as being the book to revitalize vampires in YA novels and I found it fell very short of that mark. Due to events at the end of The Beautiful, The Damned had many more vampires throughout its pages. My biggest gripe about The Beautiful was the slim appearances of vampires, at last, in The Damned, we finally get to our sultry hedonistic vampires. Sébastien's anger at being made into a vampire was so incredibly interesting to read. I loved all the little ways he chose to act out against his Uncle. Sébastien really felt like the star of this book. I enjoyed his chapters the most and found his storyline the most interesting as he adapted to his new life.

I really enjoyed the expansion of the world in this book. The Beautiful dazzled with its descriptions of 19th century New Orleans. In The Damned, we saw more of the supernatural side of the world. From the swamps outside New Orleans hosting all manner of creatures that cannot hide in plain sight within the city to the mysterious and deadly court of the Sylvan Vale Renée Ahdieh did a wonderful job of fleshing out the paranormal side of this world. I was really intrigued by the creatures hiding out in the swamp and the small community they had created there. I'm also always a sucker for dangerous court politics and the Fey court of Sylvan Vale was right up that alley.

Though the book was enjoyable it's just missing something that prevents it from being a five-star read. There's a spark that just isn't there for me. I love the setting of 19th century New Orleans full of Ahdieh's signature beautiful prose. The paranormal element is also right up my alley but I fear I'm just not connecting with the characters as much as I ought to. Since I've gotten this far it is likely that I'll read the final book because I don't like to leave things unfinished.

THE DAMNED is a worthy sequel to Ahdieh’s 2019 vampire book, THE BEAUTIFUL. First, I have to admit – THE BEAUTIFUL was actually my first Renee Ahdieh book and I absolutely loved it. New Orleans is my favorite city, and I can’t think of anything better than exploring a this city at the turn of the 20th century with vampires. But I was so frustrated in the first book by the lack of information ABOUT the vampires. So I was absolutely THRILLED to see that the POV chapters from our favorite fanged protectors. I am very into backstories and I wasn’t disappointed. I also was intrigued by the additional elements of magic that Ahdieh incorporated into the story. I wasn’t expected to see so many different types of paranormal creatures.

If THE BEAUTIFUL was really Celine’s book, THE DAMNED is Bastien’s. Ahdieh uses a really interesting technique – all of Bastien’s POV chapters are in first person POV present tense, as opposed to all the other POV chapters being in third person, past tense. I was already invested in Bastien’s internal struggle, but even if I wasn’t, the clever set up would build so much rapport with the characters.

Also, since it has to be said, Renee Ahdieh is such a sensual writer – especially in how she writes about food. I want beignets and other NOLA cuisine desperately.

I’m glad that I knew this series is expected to be four books going in – otherwise, the slightly rushed and incomplete ending would have made me a little frustrated. The plot loses itself here and there – at times it feels a bit like a paranormal soap opera – but I can’t pretend that didn’t appeal to me, personally. I also find the “love triangle” to be a bit weak. Michael just doesn’t come across as a truly worth rival for Celine’s heart.

Overall, if you liked THE BEAUTIFUL, you will definitely want to pick up a copy of THE DAMNED.

*I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*