Before I begin, I want to state that I didn't read the previous book for this. While I was not exactly confused about anything, reading other reviews to help me finalize my thoughts on this book make me wish that I had read it before this so I have a more fully fledged background of the world.

However, I did find this a pretty good read anyway. I picked this up because I liked the intro of "people mysteriously die from watching a livestream", but honestly, that happened and then it wasn't really expanded upon to my liking. Tia, the leading musical lady, was a pretty decent stand-in for the reader, but she didn't have enough well-roundedness to make it entirely believable that she's everyone's favorite person. Liya's fine, I did enjoy the sapphic romance with Tia, but her growth was stunted by the focus on Tia. Shenyu was really fun, but he was criminally underused in the plot.

However, I loved the island. The atmosphere and vibes were such a good match for a Summerween read, and it was only helped by having a spooky little ambiance room on. I recommend everyone do that. The prose was flowery and the delivery was fairytale-esque, and while that made it flow nicely, it also hindered the plot in some aspects because we spent so much time focusing on minor details. Not the authors fault, but as someone who can't see images in their head, I was left waiting at times.

Overall, I enjoyed this especially in the moment. I had a good, spooky time reading it and I'm always happy to have another sapphic notch on my bedpost.

Linda Cheng's Beautiful Brutal Bodies is a mystical, atmospheric blend of folk horror and sapphic romance that constructs itself incrementally into something disturbing and emotionally resonant. While the story itself never really hooked me early on, the slow-burn approach was finally paid off with a solid story and creepy, engrossing world-building.

What really worked for me was how Cheng pulled everything together in the conclusion. The conclusion was so satisfying and provided one with the sense of closure without being so neat, and just enough left to your imagination to remain in your head.

Overall, Beautiful Brutal Bodies is an intelligent novel that grew in the span of the book. It spent its sweet time developing characters and world, but the payoff was well worth it. Emotional resonance, conspiracy-hung suspense, and atmospheric spookiness came together into a great read that still stayed with me long after the last page.

Wow, what can I say. This novel really takes you for an adventure. I enjoyed being able to be in both minds between Shadow & Princess as it built up character back story. I was honestly surprised as each new scene revealed more. It follows your classic fairytale to an extent, but really is eery. I genuinely enjoyed this novel and would recommend to any fantasy and thriller readers.

I really enjoyed Gorgeous Gruesome Faces, so I was very excited to see this book was available.

It follows Tian, a singer-songwriter who's been locked away in a castle since she was little. She's guarded by Liya, who once was her best friend but now simply follows her strict mother's rules for protecting and following Tian.

I was instantly hooked by this book. I was intrigued by Tian and Liya's relationship and really enjoyed the fairytale-style flashbacks to when they were children. This aspect of the book worked really well and helped develop their relationship fully.

I also loved Tian's relationship with Shenyu. The dynamic between the three of them was fun, and I thought the way it played out in the end was satisfying. I thought the relationship with Shenyu, a more recent friend from the outside world, contrasted well with Tian and Liya's relationship and represented Tian's two worlds well.

The only thing I think could have been explored further was the incident that launches the book where Tian is doing a livestream of her music and her fans burst into flames. That event is what sends her to the island retreat to heal, but there's a lull in that part of the story. While we are told that Tian feels bad about this, it doesn't integrate as seamlessly with the rest of the story. There is a resolution to this as well, but I would have liked to see more of an exploration of Tian's emotions about this event.

This was a really great follow-up to Gorgeous Gruesome Faces, and I hope Linda Cheng ends up writing more books about the Celestial Maiden. The mix of folklore and horror and pop music was very unique in both books and both showed different aspects of the Celestial Maiden. I highly recommend this book and think it's one of the most unique horror books I've read in YA.

3.5 stars rounded up.

I loved Gorgeous Gruesome Faces, so I was so excited for this and definitely felt like it was a great next book, that also 100% works as a standalone.
The prologue was a wild opening and grabbed me immediately. Cheng does a great job of crafting a creepy atmosphere, and I loved the horrory nature vibes of this one. This was described as a feral fairy tale which is totally true, with a strong dose of body horror, cult vibes, and unnerving mystery. The sapphic tension and romance were wonderful too.

a spellbinding blend of sapphic romance, folk horror, and dark fairytale, this standalone follow-up to Gorgeous Gruesome Faces, which i loved, lures readers into a world of cursed islands, monstrous secrets, and aching love. tian and liya’s bond is as tender as it is tragic, set against a backdrop of eerie rituals, chilling mysteries, and a haunting past that refuses to stay buried. atmospheric and deeply original, this is a gothic fever dream you won’t want to wake up from. an excellent follow up.

This was a great follow up to Gorgeous Gruesome Faces. At first, it looks like it's going to be focusing on something entirely different, but the celestial maiden and the mild cliffhanger from the end of the last book all rear their head, and it's up to our protag to overcome it all. There were times when some of the side characters felt a bit one dimensional, but this was still a fun read. If you liked the first one, absolutely read the follow up here.

When the occult is involved, is anything really as it seems? In Beautiful Brutal Bodies by Linda Cheng, we meet Tian a singer-songwriter whose haunting vocals and stunning looks have made this reclusive singer an online success. Her closest companion, Liya, is a childhood friend and protector. In spite of this seemingly normal friendship, something more sinister lies beneath the surface. Tian hears it at night, and sees the hunger in Liya's eyes in random glimpses that never last. After a terrible tragedy occurs involving several fans of Tian, she finds herself being sent to a remote island for a retreat with Liya to accompany her. Tian is relieved to find that her musical collaborator Shenyu will also be going. This supposed vacation takes a turn for the worse when the three realize that something bigger is going on, and it might just be up to them to fix it.

This folk style horror story is bloody, gore filled, and an absolute delight to read. Thank you so much to Netgalley, Roaring Book Press, Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, and the author Linda Cheng, for providing an advanced review copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily. The details of the setting were haunting, building on our natural fear of the dark and the forest. Tian, Liya, and Shenyu each brought a different aspect of humanity to the story which was nicely broken up with bits of humor throughout. The most surprising aspect was the beautiful sapphic romance sub plot. I loved the small intimate moments and the fairy tale style flashbacks. I would highly recommend this story anyone who enjoys the darker side of fiction. This story is not for the faint of heart. Trigger warnings for body horror, gore, murder, and cannibalism.
Total Star Rating 4.25/5 stars.
Setting 4/5
Plot 4/5
Characters 5/5
Emotional Impact/Vibe 4/5
Overall Enjoyment 4/5

I loved the suspense of this book! Just when I thought I had it figured out, this author made my jaw drop! If you are looking for something that will grab and keep your attention then this is the book for you!

Beautiful Brutal Bodies was definitely creepy and I did love the horror aspect, but I didn't connect with the characters all that much.

Tian and Liya have been companions since Tian's mother died in a terrible car crash and she was taken in by Liya's mother, Auntie Chu. The girls have grown up together on a remote estate for the most part kept away from the outside world due to Tian's medical condition. While Tian has started to push back on the confines of the estate that feels more and more like a prison, Liya has fallen more and more into line with Auntie Chu's staunch stance on Tian's need for protection. When a Tian's live stream/ online concert leads to the deaths of some of her fans. Events are set in motion that finally free Tian from her prison....while possibly leading her into another.

I really enjoyed this book. The back and forth on the timeline helped me to get further drawn into the relationship between the two main characters. While the circumstances that brought them together were terrible the bod they formed and the lengths, they were willing to go to for each other was beautiful. I also liked how this book while not a sequel to the author's previous work, tied the main characters of both together and expanded on the world that she has already began building. I'm interested to see if this is the last book from this world or if the author finds that there are more stories to tell.

In this sequel to Gorgeous Gruesome Faces, Tian is an online singing sensation that is trapped living in an estate with her guardian and her daughter, Liya, under the guise of a mysterious disease that would kill her if she left the grounds. After a mysterious disaster, she is allowed to leave to a retreat with Liya guarding her where she meets her online collaborator, Shenyu, and nothing is what they expected.

Expanding on the lore of GGF, this story is even more stressful, suspenseful, and surprising. While things go south a little more quickly, and you can see the connections it’s making, there are new elements and the cult elements evolve even further to rewrite the story of Chang’e into a horror story. There was so much more happening, and the wrap up to GGF was shocking, to say the least. I was floored by how emotional the book made me and how much I loved it. Hopefully y’all will give it a chance so you can too. Thank you Linda and Macmillan for the advanced copy so I could give this review.

Beautiful Brutal Bodies was one of my first ventures into a supernatural book as an adult, I felt it was well written and very descriptive. I could picture the whole book as I was reading. The story drew me in because I wanted to find out the cause of all the bad things happening, I didn’t read the previous book by Linda Cheng in this series, Gorgeous Gruesome Faces, but that’s not required to understand this story, which I appreciate! As I was reading, I was starting to question if this was the right choice for me, I’m just getting back into reading and I usually go for the mystery/horror/crime genres, but I enjoyed the twists and turns this story took! The time the characters were on the island was creepy/spooky and I couldn’t get enough!

I do wish we could have seen a little more character development for Liya. We get to see flashbacks to get a little history, but it seems she literally just lives for Tian. It makes a little more sense the more you read, but she is still her own person. That’s the only criticism I have.

I loved Shenyu and all his comments. I wish he could have been around more frequently in the story!

I would rate this book 4 out of 5 stars. I feel that 5 stars is reserved for blowing me out of the water, but I did enjoy this book. Give it a read if you are into folk horror and creepy occult stories!

This was a great read and I will very much recommend to all because it kept me wanting to turn the pages and never want it to end

The folk horror elements themselves were unsettling and good. But the actual characters of this story fell flat. They had no growth. No change. One of them was genuinely just too perfect. I was really excited for a sapphic folk horror but this just fell flat.

This was my first read by Linda Cheng, and while I was immediately intrigued by the concept and fairytale-inspired elements, I ultimately finished the book feeling a bit underwhelmed.

The premise is unique and full of potential, but I struggled to fully engage with the story after the first few chapters. The atmosphere was compelling, and I appreciated the ambition behind the worldbuilding, but I found it difficult to connect with any of the characters. Their development felt somewhat distant and abstract.

The pacing also felt uneven—slow in some parts, with not enough payoff to keep me fully engaged. I truly wanted to enjoy this more, and even gave it a few restarts thinking I might be missing something or just not in the right headspace. But in the end, it never quite came together for me.

2.5 ⭐️

You had me at “skin-crawling folk horror” and “sapphic romance.” I was ready to clutch my pearls on a cursed island with Tian, Liya, and Shenyu. I mean, a reclusive songstress with hypnotic siren-y vocals? A bodyguard with a beastly secret? A troubled idol with a string of bad boyfriends? Sign me up for this feral fairytale! But, alas, I was promised a gothic banquet and served a half-baked charcuterie board with some questionable cheese.

Let's start with vibes. Linda Cheng’s got a knack for creepy atmospheres, and I give her mega props for that. The remote island in the South China Seas, with its constant bizarre rituals, creepy smiling staff, and something not quite human lurking in the forest? It’s giving Midsommar meets The Wicker Man. But then the story itself stumbles like me trying to walk in platform boots after one too many margaritas.

Tian, our leading lady. An ethereal, beloved songstress with a massive online following and a tragic backstory. You’re so perfect, so chosen, so SPECHULLL that I’m side-eyeing you harder than I did my high school prom queen. She’s got this Mary Sue energy that makes everyone orbit her like she’s the sun in a glittery solar system. Fans LITERALLY die watching her livestream (yikes, iconic but underdeveloped plot point), and she’s whisked away to this spiritual retreat to, what, heal her soul? Unravel occult mysteries? Girl, you’re too flawless to be this clueless. I wanted to root for you, but your perfection left me rolling my eyes instead of clutching my heart.

Then there’s Liya, Tian’s childhood friend and bodyguard, who’s supposed to be this fierce protector with a monstrous secret. Her “beastly” vibe—sharp teeth, ferocious appetite—honestly had me picturing No Face from Spirited Away, but, like, if No Face was hot and brooding. I was ready to stan this sapphic icon, but Liya’s character arc is flatter than my attempts at baking sourdough during lockdown. She’s just… there to protect Tian because of some vague ancestor magic. No depth, no growth, just a loyal attack dog. I kept waiting for her have a personality beyond “must save Tian.” Sigh. Wasted potential, my love.

And Shenyu? Oh, honey, you’re the quirky gay best friend I wanted to adopt. His snarky one-liners are the glitter in this gloomy tale, and I cackled every time he opened his mouth. But that’s all he does—tosses out zingers like confetti and fades into the background. He’s got this messy backstory with bad boyfriends and a brush with the law, but does the book explore it? Nope. He’s just Tian’s sassy sidekick. I wanted more. Give me Shenyu’s angsty island diary entries or a subplot where he flirts with a creepy kitsune. Anything!

The biggest crime? Everyone feels like a satellite in Tian’s universe. Liya and Shenyu don’t get to shine; they just revolve around her, propping up her chosen-one narrative. The island’s blood-drenched legend and Liya’s monstrous identity sound juicy on paper, but they’re rushed and underdeveloped, like Cheng had a Pinterest board of cool ideas but forgot to flesh them out. The sapphic romance between Tian and Liya? It’s there, and I’m a sucker for queer love, but it’s so surface-level I didn’t even get my usual butterflies. I wanted yearning and tension, but I got… vibes.

On the plus side, the folk horror elements are genuinely unsettling. The island’s creepy aesthetic is a mood. Cheng’s prose is lush, almost too lush, like she’s trying to bedazzle every sentence. I respect the hustle, but sometimes I just wanted the story to move faster instead of lingering on Tian’s ethereal cheekbones or something.

Anyway, this book is like that one friend who’s drop-dead gorgeous and full of potential but keeps flaking on plans. I wanted to love it. I really did! But the underdeveloped characters and Tian’s Mary Sue glow-up left me wanting more meat on these brutal bones. 2.5 stars, because I’m generous and that island gave me chills. Pick it up if you’re in the mood for spooky sapphic vibes, but don’t expect to fall head over heels. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to rewatch Spirited Away and imagine Liya as No Face with better hair.

I really liked the first half, but then it lost me a little bit. I felt like it took too long to connect the prologue to the actual story, and the relationships were a bit underdeveloped. I did like this more than the first book in the series.

Normally I love a queer horror, and I loved this author's other book Gorgeous Gruesome faces, so I thought I'd really like this one. Unfortunately I really didn't connect with Tian, and Liya was just too awful a "friend" for me to be rooting for any romance between them. Which is mostly Liya's fault, but I wouldn't have forgiven her

I have a like/dislike relationship with this book. The plot was really fun, but I didn’t love the way in which it was written.

It’s written like a fairytale, but it’s a really twisted, dark fairytale. If you’ve ever read the original fairytales that inspired various Disney movies, you’ll have an idea of what I’m talking about. While I liked this style, it took me away from the story a bit. Rather than enjoying the plot at times, I found myself focusing on the twisted fairytale style more. I have a feeling this will be a positive for some, but for me, it unfortunately took away from my experience.

Something that I absolutely loved about this book was how real the characters feel. We have a girl who feels like she really would be famous in this day and age. She felt exactly like a teenager that I have encountered in life, which made the story come to life. I felt like the characters weren’t characters, but rather real, adding to the horror of the book.

Oh, and the romance: exactly what I needed.

Thank you very much to Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group and NetGalley for an ARC of the book. All opinions are my own and not influenced by the manner in which I received it.