Wrong Book at the Wrong Time.

First, I apologize to the author and publisher for the lateness of this review.

While the allure of the plot originally hooked me, this book failed to hold my attention. I have tried multiple times to get into this book. Restarting over and over but still not being able to push through. this is a DNF for me.

It’s the nineteenth century and a strong willed, sharp minded, witty tongued young lady lands in New Orleans to start life anew. Little did she know the Crescent City holds its own secrets and not everyone is human.
Ahdleh’s characters are varied and smartly written, the plot leads you seamlessly through to an ending I didn’t imagine coming. I thoroughly enjoyed this story and looked forward to picking it back up when life demanded I put it down. Well done and won’t be the last Ahdleh I read!

First I would like to thank the publisher for proving me an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

This is the story of Celine Roussau who after some troubles in Paris moves to New Orleans to live with the sisters of the Ursuline convent. While there she meets a lot of mysterious characters with their leader being Sébastien Saint Germain, who both fascinates and frustrates Celine all at the same time. As people around Celine continue to be found dead she decides to fight back but needs the help of Sebastien to execute the plan, which will put them both in danger.

What I Liked:
- New Orleans, I love the city and its a great setting for this story as there is a change of finding some kind of mystery/magic around every corner in the Big Easy
- Celine, she had a rough upbringing having to hide her true identity but is confident in her knowledge and abilities so rarely backs down even to men if she believes she is right
- Creatures, there are a variety of creatures that pop up throughout this story including fantasy and human creatures/monsters
- Romance, I liked how Sebastien and Celine were drawn to each other in spite of trying to fight it and their drive/strength drew then together

Overall this was a good book, it was a bit long for my taste with some extra filler that I think could have been removed without really missing anything from the overall story. As this ended on a cliffhanger I will eventually continue the series but it is not one that I feel like I need to pick up right away. If you like historical romantic fantasy books set in a great city with a unique cast of characters and keeps you guessing till the end I would recommend you check this one out!

This book was okay, it was a bit long, but I really enjoyed reading it. This is a fantasy story. I would recommend reading it.

I was so excited to read this book because of the author because The Wrath and the Dawn and its sequel are two of my favorite books. But this book just didn’t hit the same.

This was great! A fast easy read that I wish I had read sooner! I look forward to reading more books by this author!!!

I have previously read Renee Ahdieh's work and enjoyed this, this book was no exception! I look forward to future books in this series, a great start!

How did I not read this sooner? This was great. This was a fast and easy read. The world was fun, the characters were great. I can’t wait to read book two.

I will preface this by saying that I do not typically read young adult fantasy, so while I found this book to be just okay, other readers may enjoy it more than I did.

"The Beautiful" by Renée Ahdieh presents a lush and atmospheric world set in 19th-century New Orleans, teeming with intrigue and mystery. Ahdieh's writing style is rich and immersive, transporting readers to a vibrant and decadent setting filled with secrets and hidden dangers. While the atmosphere and setting are undeniably captivating, the character development in "The Beautiful" falls somewhat short of expectations. Despite the intriguing premise and diverse cast of characters, some protagonists feel underdeveloped, lacking the depth and complexity needed to fully engage readers.

The plot unfolds at a steady pace, with moments of suspense and intrigue interspersed throughout. However, the pacing can feel uneven at times, with certain plot points dragging while others feel rushed. The central mystery, while intriguing, may not hold the same level of suspense for all readers. Relationship dynamics play a significant role in the narrative, with alliances and betrayals driving much of the plot. While some relationships are well-developed and compelling, others feel superficial or predictable, detracting from the overall enjoyment of the story.

Overall, "The Beautiful" offers an immersive and atmospheric read that will appeal to fans of historical fantasy. While it may not fully deliver on character development and pacing, its evocative setting and intriguing premise make it a worthwhile choice for readers seeking a captivating escape into the world of 19th-century New Orleans.

I think this is a really strong book that falls under the extremely and annoying personal category of "overwrought and too flowery writing" that I just don't love. I think this book will have PLENTY of lovers though- it's just not for me!

I did end up really enjoying The Beautiful by Renée Ahdieh. It's a fun YA read set in 1870s New Orleans with romance, vampires, and a murder mystery.

Something felt off about how the 1870s New Orleans setting was portrayed, and the vampire aspect is pretty light. There are also some paranormal aspects and the vibe overall was creepy. I really enjoyed the murder mystery aspect, as well as the main characters. And that cliffhanger! I know this is a well-beloved series, and I would definitely recommend it for younger YA readers.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-copy!

thank you to netgalley for the advanced reading copy. I really enjoyed this and will be getting copies for my shop.

Phenomenal book! Celine and Bastian are such strong characters, and are supported by a varying cast of well written counterparts. I loved the flow of the story and while the end was disappointing as far as what happened to our main characters, I am anxious to see what will happen next! I’m also confused and curious about a certain werewolf that made an appearance at the end of the book and can’t wait to learn more about what happened with that character!!! I would highly recommend this book!

The Beautiful by Renee Ahdieh is book #1 in the The Beautiful series. It took me a little bit to get into it but once I did I couldn't put it down. Celine, trying to escape her past and fresh off of the boat from Paris, falls for Sebastien. They have an instant attraction to each other they can't explain. Celine knows something supernatural is about with Sebastien friends, she just can't put her finger on it. When people start turning up dead, Celine wonders if Sebastien s the killer throughout the book.

This is not your typical vampire novel. In Book #1 vampires are not front and center but in the background. Although it is hinted at, closer to the end of the book is when we really find out they have been vampires all along. I was surprised by the ending and there are a lot of questions I have. I bought the entire series so hopefully my questions will be answered and Celine and Sebastien will find their way back to each other. On to book #2, The Damned.

This book blew me away! I absolutely loved the world building and setting by, the characters were amazing as was the storyline. I cannot wait to continue on with this series.

Celine Rousseau is 17 years old. She is going to NewOrleans to Athens Ursuline convent during carnival season. She is fleeing from from Paris. Why? She learned to be a dressmaker (under a famous dressmaker in Paris). At the convent she is given the task with two other girls to raise funds for the convent. Celine doesn’t know what she will do.to raise funds. She wants to explore the city of New Orleans but the convent won’t let her. They tell her, that they will find her and the other girls she travel with must wait until they find a suitable husband for them. As she sits in front of the convent where she sells the lace handkerchiefs she has made, she sees a male figure that she saw on her ride to the convent. The next few days, she catches him watching her but doesn’t come near her. Who is that man? Will she meet him?
I found it engaging. It is mysterious and compelling. I am sure it will become a best seller.

Disclaimer: I received an arc of this book from the author/publisher from NetGalley. I wasn’t obligated to write a favorable review or any review at all. The opinions expressed are strictly my own.

Let me just preface this by saying that I swore all the way back in 2015 that I would read ANYTHING Renee Ahdieh wrote. The Wrath and The Dawn duology and the Flame in the Mist duology both ranked among my favorite series in the years they came out, and I couldn't get enough of Ahdieh's richly textured worlds, striking prose, and captivating heroines.

So why didn't I pick up The Beautiful back in 2019, you ask? I had vampire fatigue.

But, 5 years later, when I saw this ARC on NetGalley, I couldn't resist...and I am SO GLAD I gave in.

The Beautiful is a sumptuous romance and a compelling mystery, filled with Ahdieh's signature fluid prose. Celine is a young French woman who finds herself, along with several other girls, staying at a convent. But Celine longs for life beyond the convent and is especially drawn to the danger of life in New Orleans, which is ruled by shadowy figures. When she encounters one of these figures while selling lace, Celine gets drawn into the darkness of the Court of Lions...and right into the path of a murderer. It doesn't help that Celine just can't stay away...because the intrigue of the Court of Lions is second only to its prince: Bastien, a devilishly handsome man who eschews propriety and his his sights set on Celine.

Celine is a strong, compelling heroine, and I loved that she didn't feel anachronistic. She's not a modern teen dropped into a 19th century setting, but a bold young woman whose life in Paris shaped the choices she now makes in New Orleans. I loved how she held her own against Bastien, and I was immediately drawn into the romance between them. I adored Odette, too, Celine's first introduction into the Court of Lions. My biggest critique, and the reason I knocked a star off, is that the middle felt a little repetitive and I couldn't stand the love triangle between Celine, Bastien, and the detective who investigates the murders, and who is low-key the worst. Team Bastien all the way. Aside from that, it unfolded gorgeously and that ending!! Oh my.

Thank you to NetGalley, Penguin Young Readers Group, and Renee Ahdieh for gifting me this e-ARC in exchange for my honest review! I am beyond excited to dive into the rest of the series.

This novel is basically the outline of a vampire court set in New Orleans. You know that it's about a group of vampires from the blurb, but there's really nothing overtly vampire-y happening until the end. Sorta more a murder mystery novel with an occasional unnamed first person protagonist, the detective character and the person who's stuck in between the two.

The person stuck between is Celine, who arrives in the French Quarter at the beginning of this book, along with best friend Pippa and a handful of other girls who are headed for the convent before they find appropriate marriage partners. Except, that's not really want Celine's here to do. Back in Paris, she killed a man who attempted to rape her, then got out of the way before the law caught up with her.

Not that anyone on this side of the ocean knows about that.

Our love interest is not actually detective or vampire, but rather the last Saint Germaine heir, Bastien. He's about as friendly as a cactus and has a real attitude problem from the moment he and Celine meet. So it's inconvenient for him that Celine and one of the vampires surrounding him, Odette, become best friends.

The detective character is called Michael and actually happens to make up a surprising love triangle with these other two by the end. Which is almost funny given how hostile he is in pursuit of catching a killer who always happens to be circling around Celine and those closest to her.

While this plot goes on, most of the novel is a character study that keeps you guessing as to the motivation of most of its characters. While the word 'preternatural' is used plenty, the word 'vampire' doesn't get dropped until near to the end. It's a good set up for a new series as well as opening the path for a lot more things to happen in subsequent novels.

As we are well into 2024 it has been made abundantly clear that vampires are making a comeback. I am all for the blood-sucking fiends finding their way back to popular fantasy literature because well, they can be done in so many exciting ways.
This book is a YA, very slow-burn romance, that has vampires, kind of. I would say an afterthought of vampires, or maybe vampires in the background. We have Celine who runs away from Paris and makes her way to New Orleans to find a husband. She has a darkness in her that is drawn to the seductive world of all that is New Orleans. The carnival, the masquerades, and the darkness that is around every corner. Celine sees Bastien one day and is instantly attracted, but their romance is the slowest of burns and never really comes to fruition, at least not in this book, there are 3 more in this series though. Celine draws the eye of a serial killer who drains the blood of his victims and leaves cryptic clues at the scenes of his crimes. Celine then decides she's going to find this guy and wants Bastien and his Court of Lions to help her. Friendships are made, dresses are also made and Celine makes a lot of ill-advised decisions.
Overall, the story is ok. Celine is French and New Orleans has that French Creole thing going on so there were many episodes of French dialogue, not always translated. Which was fine, unless you don't know French, then you just have to guess what they are saying. Most of the time the person will say something in French, then repeat it in English. Which tends to add much repetition to the story. Also Bastien. I don't get his appeal other than he is the most Beautiful man that Celine has ever seen. I believe he is just some danger that Celine is drawn to, but we don't really get to know him well enough to care that much about him. The side characters Pippa and Odette are great friends. Odette is a fine and randy young lady who has more personality than every other character in the story. This is a popular series, and I may continue to see what happens to these characters. However, this wasn't a must-devour series, more of an interesting story passing through.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this book.

Thought the book would have more about vampires, but it was deep into the paranormal.

After getting into it found myself engrossed. It is a bit gorry at points, so if you're not into that you may want to pass or skip those pages.

I thoroughly enjoyed the read and am ready for book two.

Recommend.