Beautiful Creatures (Caster Chronicles #1)

Great read

I am extremely proud of myself that I read this book before going and seeing the movie that was just recently in theaters. While movies are often good at depicting the brief storyline of a book, skimming over the unappealing attributes, and condensing what may have took 8 hours of continuous reading into 2 hours of visual entertainment, they most definitely are never as good as the books.

This book surprised me by having the prominent character being Ethan instead of Lena. Normally love stories are told through the girl’s perspective since girls are normally more emotional and can convey a love story in a more romantic fashion that appeals to the readers (who are most often females themselves). Surprisingly the love story between Ethan and Lena told mainly through Ethan still presented a highly romantic feeling. Even while Ethan was confused by Lena, the reader could tell he had feelings for her and his determination to explore those feelings was swoon-worthy.

The mystery of the Casters and Lena’s destiny was interesting to watch unfold within the nearly 600-page monster of a book. I found myself reminiscing on J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series where there were so many plot twists and new magical developments that just simply worked perfectly and flowed effortlessly.

The book touches on not just paranormal fun and a teenage romance, but on more somber topics such as bullying. My heart broke for those in the crosshairs of the bullies of Gatlin. I found myself wishing I could conjure some magic to strike down the foes of the characters I had come to love. The mark of literary genius is in the way the reader connects with the characters the author has created. Well, Garcia and Stohl, are literary geniuses because I fell hook, line, and sinker for all of the characters in this book (even the protagonists! Fancy that!).

In conclusion, this book was highly enjoyable. Although the length did cause the story to hit a few lulls throughout its intricate storytelling, it was still something I would highly recommend to any of my bibliophile buddies. Trust me when I say, read the book before watching the movie. It is always better to go into a movie with the entire story firmly pressed into your mind.

Dark, haunting and mesmerizing. These are the words that come to mind when I reflect on this book. Somewhere between Twilight and Harry Potter, Beautiful Creatures is a wonderful example of all that is good in Young Adult literature. Garcia and Stohl weave a captivating tale that pulls you in from the first page. The characters are honest and dynamic, the plot is whimsical and terrifying and the theme is timeless: are we in control of our own destinies or are they decided for us? Set against the prejudices of a backwards little town in the south and it's not so small-town inhabitants, Beautiful Creatures builds a world that is easy to lose yourself in. I'm not sure why it took me so long to pick this one up, it probably had something to do with the fact that the book is a whopper at 563 pages (I could seriously use this thing as a weapon if necessary), but since the movie has begun filming in New Orleans I decided I better get a move on. It took me awhile to plow through it, but it was totally worth the time. Beautiful Creatures has become one of my favorite books!


LIKES:

The Setting: The town of Gatlin is really something else. It's full of history, charming and quaint but also unforgiving and exclusive. This all leads to an incredibly dynamic setting for Beautiful Creatures. Gatlin has all the makings for the perfect setting for a Southern Gothic novel: moss-covered cemeteries, winding country roads, rows and rows of ancient trees and a crumbling plantation on the hill. But it isn't just Gatlin that entrances the reader, there's also the ever-changing Ravenwood: the oldest house in town and home to the town recluse, Greenbriar: the burnt-out rubble of what used to be Ravenwood's neighbor before General Sherman got to it and of course a secret, enchanted library that is literally underground. Color me spooked, I love it!

The characters: Part of what makes Gatlin such and awesome locale is the local population. There are so many wonderful characters, both good and bad, and they make this book something special. First there are our two main characters and lovebirds Ethan and Lena, they are so real. They are brave, but not fearless, intelligent, but not unreachable and completely in love with each other (which, lets face it, is pretty much irresistable). Then there is Amma, she is like Ethan's adopted grandma. She can bake like nobody's business, keep a teenage boy reined in and still find time to make voodoo dolls. I want her to adopt me. And there should be a totally different book just about Amma and Lena's Uncle Macon Ravenwood, the town shut-in who happens to look like a movie star. Their relationship is so antagonistic and funny that I really found myself wishing there was more of it in the book. I need to know their history together. Ravenwood is a true Southern gentleman who holds none of the prejudices of his fellow Gatlin-ites. He is fiercely protective of Lena and is an all-around entertaining old excentric. Finally there is Ridley, she is Lena's cousin and ex best friend who went "dark" on her 16th birthday. Her character holds a complexity that isn't truly showcased until the end of the book. She is evil, of course, and she appears to like being that way but you get the feeling that maybe there is something else going on there that keeps you wanting more. Plus she's just tons of fun.
The message: The best part of the story, though, has to be the message. I'm a big believer in creating your own destiny with what you are given. Lena has to face the possibility that her free will might be taken away and that she will not be able to control her own fate. This sends her on a quest to take back the reins become the author of her own destiny.
The cover: I mean, seriously, could it get any spookier or more ominous? I probably wouldn't have taken so long to read the book if I hadn't kept staring at the cover all the time.

DISLIKES:

Nothing, seriously. I really couldn't think of anything in this book that I didn't enjoy. If I had to choose, maybe Marian Ashcroft would be a little annoying in person (who speaks in quotes that much?) but she had her role in the story and at times could be really amazing.

I loved this book! I'm so happy I finally picked it up and I can't wait for the film (release date is set for February 13th, 2013). I would recommend this to anyone who loves romance, a spooky setting and, of course, a little magic.

This was a great story. Reading the description, I didn't know what to expect. What I got was a compelling and beautifully told paranormal mystery.

The town of Gatlin was very well-written. I could picture this small town with its variety of characters and very interesting history, which you find out a lot about. It was a great setting for this darker tale.

The story itself was mystifying and kept my interest throughout the whole book. While the idea of Casters, as they are called in the book, might not be totally original, the mythology behind it was very well thought out. It felt like the authors knew where the story was going at all times, even if the reader didn't (which I know I didn't).

The characters really stood out to me. It was nice seeing things from Ethan's perspective. He's lived in this town where nothing has ever happened before all his life, and now there's this new girl that completely throws him and the whole town off guard. It was cool seeing how he reacts to and slowly falls for Lena. I really liked Lena too. She was strong and different, someone you sympathized for and wanted to root for. The other characters were also complex and great to read about.

Overall: A great start to a series that I think will just get better and better. I can't wait to see what's in store for the next book!

beautifully writing like a true love story.... I true enjoy it.

Reader reviewed by john

                   Beautiful Creatures is a very good book.  I absolutely loved it!  Enough to read it a second time and I plan on reading it a 3rd and 4th time.  I just love the atmosphere of the book and the setting( same thing?) and it was just really good.  More than good. . Great!.  I loved Ethan, it was a good twist the authors, K&M, took with having a male as the teller of the story when most paranormal romance novels are told in a females point of view.  One of the things that was weird was how when Lena and Ethan were hanging out at Greenbrier and Lena started re-shaping the clouds and Ethan saw it and reacted like it was nothing.  Yeah. . . I notice the small stuff.  I don't know about you but I would of been like "How did you do that?!" and ran away.  Well, I wouldn't have run away!.  Hmm, maybe it takes a lot for Ethan to be freaked out.  I loved all the charecters, and yes!, even Ridely.  She's actually my favorite charecter.  You can kind of tell that she isn't totally emotionless and does feel remorse for some of the things that she does.  I hope she is in book 2 and the rest of the series.  Not to sound mean to the authors but I can describe this book as the paranormal version of To Kill a Mockingbird.  Seriously!  Both stories take place in the South, both stories have a town "creep" that nobody ever sees.  Both stories have a maid, but Amma isn't really a maid in Beautiful Creatures, but she does do all the cooking and cleaning and whatnot.  Not to compare books, though, I rarely compare books.  Beautiful Creatures  was one of those books that when you're reading the action scenes in the book you don't have any clue what's going on, and then you read it a second time and it's crystal clear!  Yeah, that was how the book was for me.  I love the magical powers that Lena and her family has.  The book was really original and creative.  For me, it was one of those books that you feel you've read a million times before ( in a good way!) and it just feels so right to read it and you can't really put it down because it's just so good.  I can't wait for Beautiful Darkness to come out in October!  I'm getting it @ midnight if possible!

Reader reviewed by jedi145

This book is amazing. The characters were rounded and the romantic relationship was realistic. The plot was action filled and exciting.  It is from a male POV which is really different for a paranormal romance. It is really long, which I love. The town has a neat background. The authors did some research on the south and I always love authors that have done research for their book. The writing is really good and the plot is unique. 

Reader reviewed by Khadija

Summary: Lena Duchannes is unlike anyone the small Southern town of Gatlin has ever seen, and shes struggling to conceal her power and a curse that has haunted her family for generations. But even within the overgrown gardens, murky swamps, and crumbling graveyards of the forgotten South, a secret cannot stay hidden forever.

Ethan Wate, who has been counting the months until he can escape from Gatlin, is haunted by dreams of a beautiful girl he has never met. When Lena moves into the towns oldest and most infamous plantation, Ethan is inexplicably drawn to her and determined to uncover the connection between them.

In a town with no surprises, one secret could change everything.

My Review: First off....GO BUY THIS BOOK NOW!!!

Sorry about all my outbursts but i mean it, if you haven't read this book you need to. Not a good enough reason? *sighs* oh well guess that was to be expected. OK here is my long drawn out reason why you need to read Beautiful Creatures .

Beautiful Creatures is one of those stories that you wait out in the rain for. It's one of those books that naturally become a phenomenon because of how utterly compelling and genuine the story is.

Thinking outside of the box. That is another one of those things i love about books, when there completely unpredictable. And Beautiful Creatures was just that. Bringing a whole new level and meaning to witches and magic (excuse me) in beautiful creatures their called 'Casters'.

I really loved how the story is told from a male point of view. It seems as if there are a million different young adult books but only a handful are from a guys point of view. (what's up with that?)

I read Beautiful Creatures in one sitting, it took me a total of four hours to read the whole thing and then i read it again. I just couldn't put it down and from the first sentence i was hooked.

Now, what you need to do is read Beautiful Creatures and see for yourself what an amazing story it is.

......highly anticipating Beautiful Darkness the second book in the Caster Chronicles as you can see over there -----> in my sidebar I'm counting the days.

Reader reviewed by Alex (Tales of a Teenage Book Lover)

Reader reviewed by Rose

Beautiful Creatures

By Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl

Ethan Wate (who is desperate to escape his small town in the Deep South) has repeating dreams about a girl he has never met. When the girl moves into a mansion nearby, Ethan is determined to figure out what the connection is between them. Eventually, the girl (Lena) is going to be pulled to the dark side, and they have to find a way to save her&

Crappy description, but the book is good.

Likes

A.     awesome cover

B.     fast read

C.     gripping plot

D.     pretty good characters

Dislikes

A.    None