I wanted to like this book more than I actually did. I loved the setting, but some of the characters fell a little flat for me. It's still a solid start to a new series.

4.7 Stars
This book was my second favorite read of 2019 so far and it’s a close second. This book will change your heart and make you feel infinite. I can't wait for the sequel/final installment in 2024 its gonna so great! This series is sooo full in a good way! Rereading it is so resfreshing! Do you enjoy a little murder mystery? How about vampires? How about bad boys and good girls? Star-crossed lovers? New Orleans culture and vibes! I know this series took so long because of covid and I’m so excited to see where it ends. The third book does feature someone else.

beautifully atmospheric and filled with great characters and a wonderful supernatural world!

this author’s writing is always a treat to read.
its lyrical and almost poetically beautiful but at the same time easy to read and just fall into the story with.

the setting as well as the set up to the story was so well done, and works wonderfully together.
you can imagine New Orleans during this historical times and you believe it’s possible that those supernatural elements could happen there just because it all fits so well together.

this book isn’t fast paced and it’s not action packed or as spooky or horrific as some other gothic supernatural stories can be. so if you want a bloody ripper story… this might not be the right book for you. but i found this slower pacing and build up and reveals worked in favor for the story and atmosphere of it very well.

i didn’t love the ending but it’s the first book in a series so clearly it’s a set up for more and a larger coming story.

This book was a little weird and I had a hard time getting into it. The story and plot were good but moments through out the book I'd lose interest. I am a mood reader though so it could definitely be that this wasn't the book that I was looking for in the moment.

Absolutely lovee Renée
She is that author that you automatically know she gonna write a good book
And this, this is the perfect enemies to lovers, vampire, perfect for a dark fall day read and the cliffhanger….. pfiuuuu that was something else.
Everyone go read this immediately since the last book is so close to be published

Was this as advertised? Not exactly.
Did I enjoy this? Damned straight I did.

Re-read thoughts: dropped my rating to four. The pacing is so off in the beginning and does that fabulous ending a disservice.

New Orleans, murder mysteries and vampires. I didn't know I needed it and I'm thrilled it is now in my possession. And that it <I>delivered</I>. The historical New Orleans setting was delightful. I've never been myself but I got a really great image of it from Ahdieh's descriptions. The murder mystery is what really drew me into this story. The narrative is told primarily from Celine's POV—with the odd Bastian chapter scattered throughout—but every so often we get a chapter of the murderer. And were those ever freaky. We don't know who—or apparently <I>what</I>—they are, but they are watching Celine. Obsessing over her. It was so well done and captured my attention immediately.

I admit, the vampire aspect was a bit weak. And I knew that going in, thanks to the many mixed reviews I'd seen floating around. To call it a vampire book is a bit of a stretch. A lot of the book had me wondering who was and wasn't a vampire as Celine is not one, and neither is Bastian. It's never really spoken out loud that they exist, but it's strongly implied. All that said, the second book is looking to be <I>heavily</I> laden with vampires and other paranormal goodies that I can't wait. The cover alone has me in eager anticipation, but the description has me crying I have to wait almost another year!

Look, I am a sucker for a female main character with a devil may care attitude. And Celine embodied that beautifully. She's bloody clever and had some quick quips that made me snicker. Her skill with dressmaking was a bit under-utilized in my opinion, but I liked the part it played in this story. She has a backstory that is unfortunate, but one that you can sympathize with. I thought Celine's regular self-assurances that she had a terrible darkness to her would become annoying, but it actually scratched the surface of her well. And I think it sets her up for what could potentially go down in book two.

There was a bit of a love triangle that—dare I say it?—I may have absolutely enjoyed. Nine times out of ten I despise it when the main character has two gents after her because it usually feels so forced and unrealistic. Like the author is trying to make them both happen so hard when it's like shoving a cube into a circular hole. This felt natural and believable, and either option I'd be <I>delighted</I> with. In fact, I really enjoyed how both relationships developed with Celine. They both felt like slow burns, even if she was obviously leaning the one way throughout. The synopsis is right when it says it's sultry and again, I'm looking forward to what comes next. Hearts. Are. Going. <b>Shatter.</b>

My rating is actually 4.5 out of 5, and I think what kept this from a perfect score was Ahdieh's writing style. This is my first book of hers so I can't say if it's a one-off or not. I just felt like it was at the same time perfect and way too over the top. Like, this is such great writing, but coming to that conclusion is a bit of a stretch. However poetic it is, you can't always compare pretty mundane things to being unmoored at sea. In the beginning, my mind drifted a few times and I got lost in making connections and following along. After about a hundred pages I was far more invested and not as bothered by it.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher!!! This is such a great book and series, what an improvement on the YA vampire genre of my youth.

1872. New Orleans. Vampires. Forbidden love. A murder mystery. Holy moly. Add in the lavish clothing and mouthwatering food descriptions, this is a recipe for a new favorite book.

The Beautiful is beautiful. I don’t always love vampires. I don’t always love historical fiction pieces. They are usually hit or misses for me. This was a hit.
I was absolutely drawn in by the time period and the streets of New Orleans. The characters were captivating. I loved the main character, Celine. Celine is from France but had to leave under circumstances that you’ll just have to read the book to find out about. But it made her a riveting character who isn’t afraid to say what she thinks. She sticks up for herself and others and goes after what she wants.

I want to read more. I want more New Orleans. I want to know more about the Court of Lions and the Brotherhood. Luckily the title and cover of book 2 has just been announced so I just have to wait patiently 😬. It’s important to remember that there is going to be a book 2, because at the end there are cliffhangers. This was a five star read based on how much I enjoyed the world building and that I didn’t want it to end.