Monstrous Beauty

Oct 18, 2012 Wendy Darling rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult, pn-sea-creatures, pn-ghosts, august, gorgeous-prose, victorian, mature-ya, 2012-publication, 2012-favorites, deliciously-creepy, read-2012, macmillan, mythic-and-fairy-tale-ish, supportive-author, gothic, 2012-5-star-books

Take a photographic tour of the Monstrous Beauty world as Elizabeth Fama stops by The Midnight Garden to kick off her blog tour! Plus win a finished hardcover of the book.

It was a woman--as pale and luminescent as a ghost, with swirling white hair. Ezra startled, dropping his pencil into the water. Her face snapped toward him. Her eyes were too large, clear green, and had horizontal, slit-shaped pupils, reminiscent of an octopus.

Did your pulse quicken when you read that paragraph? Mine did! I h...more

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Aug 10, 2012 K. rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 21st-cent, e-book, fairy-tales-are-naughty-and-twisted, fantasy-sci-fi-dys, goosebumps, historical, hit-me-in-the-heart, ok-fine-its-ya, this-shelf-is-divine, to-buy

Elizabeth Fama's Monstrous Beauty is a dark and twisted concoction of myth, curses, history, and murder. It is a piercing story about a mermaid who longs to love and a young girl who has discarded any hope of it. I haven't read many sea-folk lore, and so won't pretend to understand this "new" and "original" approach to the mermaid legend. The story is certainly mature, however, daring to be more graphic and seasoned (if you catch my meaning), than most young adult novels in the market. In fact,...more

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Aug 06, 2012 Sam rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc-or-galley, fantasy-or-paranormal, fantasy-or-pn-favourites, romance, paranormal, mystery, fantasy, historical, 2012-favourites

It has been long overdue, but finally, here we have a mermaid book that I truly enjoyed.

Monstrous Beauty is a dark and chilling story split between two time periods. We follow Syrenka, a beautiful and deadly mermaid in the late 1800s, and we follow Hester Goodwin, a modern-day girl who lives by the sea. In Hester’s family, all women have died mere days after giving birth to their first child and Hester believes this unexplained pattern must be hereditary. She decides to research the past, and a...more It has been long overdue, but finally, here we have a mermaid book that I truly enjoyed.

Monstrous Beauty is a dark and chilling story split between two time periods. We follow Syrenka, a beautiful and deadly mermaid in the late 1800s, and we follow Hester Goodwin, a modern-day girl who lives by the sea. In Hester’s family, all women have died mere days after giving birth to their first child and Hester believes this unexplained pattern must be hereditary. She decides to research the past, and along with it, uncover the mysteries of the deaths in the local church. Meanwhile, in 1872, Syrenka is falling in love with a young naturalist she meets out at sea, and makes the ultimate decision to abandon all she has ever known to join him on land. Dire consequences follow and set in motion a set of tragic events that are, somehow, connected to Hester and her life more than a century later.

This story is one that is beautifully told. Elizabeth Fama is clearly a talented writer and her prose was utterly stunning. The transitions between the two time periods were faultless and I thought Fama handled the alternating chapters with skill. In truth, the chapters from Syrenka’s story in the 1800s captured my attention far more than Hester’s tale (which was unexpected as historical backdrops are not always my favourite kind) but this I believe is more down to Hester’s personality than the actual writing. Ultimately though, I appreciated the overall intertwining of the two individual stories as they came together as one nearing the climax. Not only do we have the most fascinating mermaid lore in the book – featuring sea creatures of the blood-curdling kind that are prone to acts of lung shredding and heart swallowing – we are also given generous doses of a ghost story and the paranormal. This is most definitely a unique book, with elements of a historical mystery holding everything together.

As with most YA books, there is a romance present. Unlike most YA books, it has a very sour taste. Hester is, of course, drawn to Ezra in his dark and dingy cave and quick to fall for him. In all honesty, I never understood her attraction to him (even with implications of her connection to Syrenka). Although both are semi-likable characters, neither held my attention as significantly as Syrenka. Without spoiling anything, I can say Fama is not afraid to take the romantic plot down an unexpected route. Come the ending, and I was almost shocked that what happened had actually happened. Maybe I am too used to neat, wrapped-up stories but clearly Fama has no objections to leaving us open-mouthed, and maybe even a little on the disappointed side for some.

Syrenka is undoubtedly the star of the show for me. She is not your average mermaid. Although capable of love and gentleness, she is as equally capable of murder and acts of brutality. As she was such a complex being, it overshadowed Hester a little and left her somewhat dull at times in comparison. Her relationship with Noo’kas – the leader of all sea folk – is not one that I truly understood, but I appreciated her nonetheless. Noo’kas is, by the way, absolutely vile. Just imagine an anteater tongue in your mouth… that’s all I’m saying.

Monstrous Beauty is a book I am certain many readers will enjoy, even those of us who are usually doubtful about mermaid tales. With its dark, uncompromising plot and its vicious sea creatures, this is a mermaid book that I will not be forgetting in a hurry.

(This review also appears on my blog)(less)

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Sep 28, 2012 fяσzєη rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: mermaids-and-sirens, 2012-faves, faves, insta-love

This review is also available over at my blog.

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Part of my Mermaid Marathon, round two.

The year is 1872, and Syrenka, a mermaid, falls in love with the gorgeous Ezra, and makes the deadly decision to become mortal and live a life with him. Flash forward to almost 140 years later, Hester Goodwin meets a stranger with the same name, who seems to be living in a cave at the beach. In Hester's family, love has always lead to death. After the women in her family give birth to a...more

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Sep 04, 2012 Noelle rated it 4 of 5 stars

A mermaid found a swimming lad,
Picked him for her own,
Pressed her body to his body,
Laughed; and plunging down
Forgot in cruel happiness
That even lovers drown.
--The Mermaid by William Butler Yeats

Syrenka, an immortal creature of the sea has learned the hard way that loving a human can have catastrophic consequences but when she meets Ezra, a naturalist in 19th century Plymouth, Massachusetts, she dares to dream of a life shared together and is willing to sacrifice anything for the chance. Hester,...more A mermaid found a swimming lad,
Picked him for her own,
Pressed her body to his body,
Laughed; and plunging down
Forgot in cruel happiness
That even lovers drown.
--The Mermaid by William Butler Yeats

Syrenka, an immortal creature of the sea has learned the hard way that loving a human can have catastrophic consequences but when she meets Ezra, a naturalist in 19th century Plymouth, Massachusetts, she dares to dream of a life shared together and is willing to sacrifice anything for the chance. Hester, a 21st century teenager has begun to suspect that the affliction causing generations of mothers in her family to die within weeks of childbirth isn't so much a genetic defect as it is a curse. When Hester begins to research her hunch, she uncovers much more than she could ever anticipate.

Yes, Monstrous Beauty is a story about mermaids, but it's also a story about love, sacrifice and the unexpected repercussions they create. It's about how something beautiful can spawn something so wretchedly tragic that it echoes in time for centuries.

There was a delicious undercurrent of creeeeeepy in Fama's writing, a feeling I described akin to listening to the Jaws theme. You knew something was surfacing, but what? And would the damage be lost limbs and carnage or just peeing your pants in false alarm? Fama doesn't shy away from darkness or violence and horrible things happen to characters in an nondiscriminatory manner. No one is safe from tragedy or physical peril.

There were several times while reading that I wondered if the story could end happily for anyone involved. It would be so easy to understand why Hester might be doomed to repeat Syrenka's calamitous mistakes because although some of the tragedies of Monstrous Beauty were perpetuated by hate, a majority of the destruction was motivated by love---sometimes short-sighted and selfish love, sure--but love nonetheless.

The history-rich setting, including Burial Hill and the details of Hester's job as a historical reenactor added additional depth to the already dark mythology and almost tangibly oppressive atmosphere. However, the construct of the plot (Hester is not privy to the flashbacks to Syrenka's story) placed the reader several steps ahead of Hester for much of the book and it could be exceedingly frustrating when Hester unwittingly waltzed into dangerous situations or failed to pick up on things the reader has long since guessed. But just when I was about to throw my hands in the air and plead, "Get with it already, Hester!" Fama added enough suspense and surprises to bring the story home with a satisfying smash. 3.5 stars

This review originally appeared at Young Adult Anonymous.(less)

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Sep 05, 2012 Giselle rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc, ebook, historical-fiction, paranormal

I have tried to read mermaid books - a new hype in today's YA market - and book after book I keep finding myself disappointed, realizing that these water beings are simply not my forte... until now. Is it the dark, twisted plot? Is it the violent, yet beautiful story? Is it the combination of local sea lore mixed with curses, murders, love, and horror? Let's just say, this is definitely more up my alley than the froufrou mermaid books that I have been using for kindling lately.

Monstrous Beauty w...more I have tried to read mermaid books - a new hype in today's YA market - and book after book I keep finding myself disappointed, realizing that these water beings are simply not my forte... until now. Is it the dark, twisted plot? Is it the violent, yet beautiful story? Is it the combination of local sea lore mixed with curses, murders, love, and horror? Let's just say, this is definitely more up my alley than the froufrou mermaid books that I have been using for kindling lately.

Monstrous Beauty welcomes the old sea-folk lore, where mermaids are beautiful, perilous beasts who seduce and kill those who unfortunately come upon their waters. There is even mention of specific lore details such as the goddess Atargatis; I can't say I was extremely familiar with the mythology myself, but this book piqued my interest enough to have me browsing Wikipedia to learn more about it. It's a very fascinating subject with a lot of history and legends surrounding it. Though knowing absolutely nothing about the history of these sea creatures will not diminish your enjoyment of this book in the least, it's merely to say that it will increase your appetite for it. Rich imagery created by brilliant descriptions turns these mythical beings, as well as their underwater world, the villagers, the alternating time periods, all of it, into a strikingly picturesque tale. It may revolve around it, but the mermaids are not the only thing to look forward to in this novel; we have a cursed family, a love story, an enthralling history, and even a few ghosts.

Naturally, with such vicious creatures in our midst, we get a plot that is much darker than your usual paranormal mermaid novel. It's violent, gory at times, with scenes of horror and seduction that I would not normally expect from a YA novel, making me recommend this for more mature readers. I found these aspects really impacted the seriousness of the mermaid myth. They are not, in fact, sweet loveable creatures. They're manipulative, treacherous monsters who will make you look at The Little Mermaid in a whole new light.

Hester is dealing with a genetic defect that has killed all mothers in her family after they have given birth, but when she meets the mysterious Ezra, he helps her figure out some answers to this apparent curse. The mesmerizing manner this story is told keeps a perfect pace, constantly bringing us deeper into this fiercely gripping tale, never letting our attention falter. While Hester is delving farther into her unusual family history, we get thrown into the past where a passionate love story with mermaid Syrenka and her human lover unfolds. With the past and the present intertwining in more ways than one, this whirlwind romance quickly becomes a richly developed mystery. And even though I solved large parts of it long before Hester -- in some cases I even marveled at how easily she could have deciphered it if only she thought it through for a minute -- I still enjoyed the thrilling climax which is soon followed by a flawless ending.

Exciting, dark, and positively gorgeous, Monstrous Beauty has finally given me a mermaid book to rave about, throwing my expectations right out of the water (Ha! I made a pun!). A must read for those who would prefer their mermaid books in a more sinister tone.

--
An advance copy was provided by the publisher for review.

For more of my reviews, visit my blog at Xpresso Reads

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Jul 30, 2012 Kara rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: People who are tired of mediocre mermaid books.

Recommended to Kara by: Wendy Darling

Shelves: arc, fantasy, favorites, for-review, ghosts, i-cried, massachusetts, mermaids, net-galley, romance, young-adult

I was hesitant about reading this book after the drama over a particular blog post this author wrote called Kill My ARC. I'd rather not talk about it, but just know that it was a blog post that offended a good number of book bloggers. A few of them decided not to read this book, and I fully support that decision. Suffice it to say that I was not pleased with the blog post and did not agree with the majority of her views at all. But after thinking about it for awhile, I decided to read Monstrous...more I was hesitant about reading this book after the drama over a particular blog post this author wrote called Kill My ARC. I'd rather not talk about it, but just know that it was a blog post that offended a good number of book bloggers. A few of them decided not to read this book, and I fully support that decision. Suffice it to say that I was not pleased with the blog post and did not agree with the majority of her views at all. But after thinking about it for awhile, I decided to read Monstrous Beauty anyway. Why? Because I believe authors are entitled to their opinions even if I don't agree with them. At the same time, I can choose NOT to read a book based on an author's opinion. But in this case I wasn't all that offended. It did bother me, but I am much MORE offended when an author attacks a book reviewer for not reviewing their book the way they feel the reviewer should have. Basically what I am saying is that I deal with bad author behavior on a case-by-case basis. And in this case, I let it slide. Plus I really, REALLY wanted to read this book. And I am glad I did.

Monstrous Beauty was freaking fantastic. So far mermaid books and I have not meshed well together. I would still say for the most part that this is a true statement, but I really enjoyed this book. Maybe it was because it was not just about mermaids. There are so many other story elements that play a part in the story: ghosts, uncovering a secret family history, curses, murder, and a really atmospheric setting that connected it all together in a really fantastic way.

This is probably the right time to mention that Elizabeth Fama is an extremely talented writer. Her words have a way of hitting me in all the right places. She strings sentences together brilliantly and you would never know that this is only her second book. To me it felt like she had been writing for decades. I really was a fan of the atmosphere, tone, and sentence structure in this book. Some writing styles flow really well and some just grate on a reader's nerves, while some writing styles make you sigh with pleasure. The latter was the case for me. I don't think I have enjoyed a writing style this much since Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo.

One POV in the book is set in the past and one is set in the future. I really liked this because it really felt like the story started weaving together from two different perspectives right from the very beginning. The suspense continuing to grow until the culmination, where the connections are finally made and all the story threads tied together. I was then left with a wonderful conclusion that left me feeling the entire range of emotions on the spectrum.

Since we are talking about POV, this is the perfect place to talk about the characters, or more importantly, the two protagonists. Yes, in my eyes there were two, but I was definitely more fond of one than the other. And this is where I ran into a problem with Monstrous Beauty. I loved Syrenka. She was humble, gorgeous, intelligent, yet she was flawed in a few important ways. I can't say how without spoiling the book, but she is a pretty special character that will leave you crying, laughing, groaning, angry, but ultimately really rooting for her. I cannot say the same for Hester. I didn't hate Hester as a character, I just found her cold. She made a comeback towards the latter third of the book, but up until that point I found her whiny, mean, and incredibly selfish. And that's a problem because she also felt kind of flat. Put simple, I just didn't like her very much. The author should have given her some redeemable qualities in the beginning. Readers need something to root for. I don't mind unlikable characters, but they have to have personality if you are going to write them that way. Hester was just a boring bratty girl. But I got past that because everything else about Monstrous Beauty was stunning.

Parts of this book are a little predictable and I didn't find the twists all that hard to figure out, but even so, this was an epic book. It's definitely one that has adult crossover appeal. If you are an adult who only reads adult fiction and you are thinking of making a foray into young adult literature, this is the perfect book to start with. I'd also recommend this to any reader sick of reading mediocre mermaid books. This is definitely NOT one of them. (less)

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May 02, 2012 Blythe rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: kindle, netgalley-edelweiss-arc, i-totally-saw-that-coming, didn-t-see-that-coming, hand-me-some-tissues, 2012-reads, read-reviewed, exceeded-my-expectations, 2012-favorites

Wow. I can’t even begin to explain how thoroughly excellent Monstrous Beauty is. It’s to the point where I don’t even want to write a review, because, and I’ve said this before, it’s not going to come close to truly showing how amazing this book is.

Monstrous Beauty has everything that would make a book awesome: mermaids, ghosts, a curse, an awesome mystery, and an absolutely excellent plot.

The plot…. Oh my, that plot was… Wow. It took me some time to get used to the transitioning time periods,...more

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Oct 01, 2012 Catie rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, historical, paranormal, read-in-2012, ya

Those two stars up there are for the mermaids, which ironically were the main reason I felt hesitant to read this. But damn if she didn’t deliver on the mermaids. These ladies are creepy, clawed, razor-toothed monsters capable of twisted magic. The prologue of this book, wherein the mermaid Syrenka tries to make love to the man she’s been watching for months and then accidentally kills him, had me completely enthralled.

And then the story flashed forward by a few hundred years and Hester showed...more

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Aug 01, 2012 Nafiza rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: net-galley, 2012

This is a mermaid story. Consider yourself warned. I have yet to read a mermaid story that I actually really, really liked. I was hoping to like this as much because it comes backed by our lovely Wendy but I think this is one of the few times our tastes will diverge. I found the novel strong, likable but ultimately stereotypical of all others that exist. It didn’t give me anything new but it was an entertaining read.

The writing is strong and smooth. I liked the characterizations and I thought th...more This is a mermaid story. Consider yourself warned. I have yet to read a mermaid story that I actually really, really liked. I was hoping to like this as much because it comes backed by our lovely Wendy but I think this is one of the few times our tastes will diverge. I found the novel strong, likable but ultimately stereotypical of all others that exist. It didn’t give me anything new but it was an entertaining read.

The writing is strong and smooth. I liked the characterizations and I thought that Syrenka was one of the most intriguing mermaids I have come across so far. I wish the book had stuck with her and not Hester. The plot was well thought out and I liked the old Pastor and Linnie. Sam was also adorable. Why does Hester call her father Malcolm and not dad? This was never discussed but occurred enough times to become an issue with me.

The story moves between time and this was not done smoothly. The transitions often feel jarring and have the effect of jerking you out of the story and breaking whatever cadence you have built up so far. Hester treats her best friend and crush before the arrival of the ghost dude horribly. Very horribly. This does not make me warm to her. At all. Spoilers ahead, highlight to read.(view spoiler)

(view spoiler) To make matters even more worse, the villainess of this piece is an immortal being who apparently has no other motivation, is female and ugly and very one dimensional. She swoops in and becomes the bad guy so everyone else can be innocent in varying degrees of course. It didn’t work for me. If this was a reference to the sea witch, it really didn’t work me. I needed the villain to be developed more.

I couldn't get into the contemporary portion of the romance, that is Hester and Ezra because I believe that Fama had created Syrenka and Ezra's relationship strongly enough that I felt betrayed for Syrenka, if that makes sense. (view spoiler) Plus, it is not Hester that Ezra loves, it is Syrenka's soul in Hester or whatever bit remains that attracts Ezra.

My last words? I wasn't too enamored of this book. Not as much as I wanted to be anyway. However, don't take my word for it! Wendy loved the novel and she has written a very eloquent review that I urge you to read. And then make up your mind after you have considered both reviews.(less)

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May 04, 2012 Katya rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, arc-galley, antiheroes, fairy-tales, favorites, holy-hell, horror, kudos-for-the-worldbuilding, magical-realism, myths-revised, seriously-disturbing, silently-contemplating, teen-lit

Hester Goodwin is like any other teenage girl - she goes to school, she crushes on her best friend, she works weekends and summers at the Pilgrim village at her local community. However, the women in her family have suffered from a strange affliction: they all die within a few days of giving birth to a child. The idea that she might find love only to die scares Hester so badly that she decides she doesn't want to have a relationship, ever, but then she meets the odd, handsome Ezra, who encourage...more Hester Goodwin is like any other teenage girl - she goes to school, she crushes on her best friend, she works weekends and summers at the Pilgrim village at her local community. However, the women in her family have suffered from a strange affliction: they all die within a few days of giving birth to a child. The idea that she might find love only to die scares Hester so badly that she decides she doesn't want to have a relationship, ever, but then she meets the odd, handsome Ezra, who encourages her to look into her family history for the origin of this curse.

And it is a strange origin, going back all the way to 1872 where a naturologist and a mermaid fall in love, leading her to seek life on land. But merfolk and men were not meant to mingle, and the consequences of their decisions leads to a tragic end.

Monstrous Beauty starts off slow, builds up raplidly and finishes on such a breathless note that it had me glued to my chair and reading until near midnight. From the outset, it looks like any other YA book - inexplicable attractions and all - but it soon takes a turn for the dark and macabre. The narrative alternates between modern day Plymouth and 1872-1873, and follows both Hester and the mermaid Syrenka, until their stories meet and entwine to a really satisfying conclusion.

Now, I have to say, I looked forward to Syrenka's chapters a lot more than I did for Hester's (even if her name translates to something less scary or exotic in Bulgarian). She, along with most of the characters in those segments, is very well fleshed out, three dimentional, and heartbreaking. Her story unravels constantly to new and tragic ends, which really made my heart go out to her.

That is not to say the story is perfect, though. There are quite a lot of small things that made me pause, but there are only a couple of them that I felt could have been handled better.

I said that the book starts off slow, and part of the reason why is because I didn't get much of a feel for Hester as a character. Compared to Syrenka's, her segments (and the characters in them) are underdeveloped, and I never could buy her motivation. Yeah, okay, the women in her family often die after giving birth, but she's a teenage girl. I can't believe she would just think she's doomed if she falls in love, not without at least challenging the assumption.

But as the book progresses, Hester becomes a really cool character too. Once she realizes that somethings is up and shit got real, she puts on her big girl pants and does what she has to do. Refreshingly enough, she needs no help to do it either. Yes, her motivation is a guy, but the guy is absolutely helpless and she has to deal with every obstacle by herself, and I think she emerges as a stronger character from it.

(view spoiler)

So yeah... to put it as simply as I can, this is actually a good mermaid book. I recommend it.

Note: A copy was provided by the publishers via NetGalley for the purposes of this review. (less)

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Aug 19, 2012 Crystal rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, arc

Holey moley!! I had no clue that this book would A. be as creepy as it was and B. deal more with ghosts and history than actually mermaids. Yes the mermaids play a big part but the ghosts play an even bigger part in my opinion and it was pure brilliance on the authors part! This book was creepy, captivating and oh yeah not for the faint of heart. *hehe*

This book has two stories in it. One that dates back to 1872 and the other in 2011. Told in alternating chapters we get to see two very different...more Holey moley!! I had no clue that this book would A. be as creepy as it was and B. deal more with ghosts and history than actually mermaids. Yes the mermaids play a big part but the ghosts play an even bigger part in my opinion and it was pure brilliance on the authors part! This book was creepy, captivating and oh yeah not for the faint of heart. *hehe*

This book has two stories in it. One that dates back to 1872 and the other in 2011. Told in alternating chapters we get to see two very different stories take place. In 1872 we have Ezra who is intrigued with mythical legends of sea folk. When he happens to stumble upon the very legend that he seeks he instantly falls in love and he knows that his life will never be the same again. In 2011 we have Hester and she is not what I expected. At first she seemed like your typical seventeen year old, she goes to school, has friends, and works in the summers. Well what is interesting about Hester is that she works at a Pilgrim plantation, this is a place where everyday she gets to act like she is a pilgrim for the tourists. I found all this very interesting and it gave Hester a whole different vibe than other girls that are in books today. So cool! Hester is also big into history and she lives in the same small town that her ancestors did. This gives her a starting point when she starts to look into the "curse" that has befallen most of the women in her family. You see after her mother gave birth she died shortly after, this happened to not only her but also her grandmother and her great-great-great grandmother. Knowing that this could happen to her, Hester vows to never get close to anybody so that maybe she can break this "curse". What she doesn't know is that this supposed curse goes way back in history and involves a soul, a baby, a mermaid, hatred, and love.

Sounds pretty cool right??!! I know my little synopsis does not do the story justice by any means, but will give you a little glimpse into what this story is all about. There are so many characters and twists and turns throughout this book that I can guarantee you won't want to put it down. I did mention that this isn't for the faint of heart right?? There are several parts of this book that gave me the shivers and they were a bit on the gory side, but man on man were they awesome!! I loved every minute of it and I am so glad the author chose to include those little icky parts. It was so amazing watching this story unfold piece by piece and to see Hester figure everything out. I really appreciated the paths these characters took. There was no love triangle and no teenage angst, for the most part. The romance was believable and I loved the way the author used souls. It made everything come together perfectly.

Great characters, awesome plot with so many secrets that it took me up until the very last page to understand, and just an overall brilliant book about mermaids. What more could you ask for??!!

This review and more can be found here:

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Mar 07, 2013 Parvathy rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Mermaid story lovers

Shelves: broken-characters, fairy-tale-retellings, glued-till-the-last-page, movie-material, living-vicariously, mystery, mythology, please-pass-the-tissues, romeos-and-juliets, young-adult, tower-read, tower-team-d

"Enchanting and Original" Monstrous Beauty is one of those books that can shock you and entrance you at the same time. From the very first chapter the author exceeded my expectation. Be it when we are introduced to the characters or when they are put in difficult situations. Nothing went the way I expected and more than that it took turns I never would have imagined in a million years.

As a kid like all the kids my age I grew up watching Disney cartoons. I was so entralled by the magical world o...more "Enchanting and Original" Monstrous Beauty is one of those books that can shock you and entrance you at the same time. From the very first chapter the author exceeded my expectation. Be it when we are introduced to the characters or when they are put in difficult situations. Nothing went the way I expected and more than that it took turns I never would have imagined in a million years.

As a kid like all the kids my age I grew up watching Disney cartoons. I was so entralled by the magical world of fairies, princesses and witches that a part of that stories have always stayed with me but none more than "Little Mermaid". I absolutely adored Ariel and her undersea world. Singing fishes, composers crabs and dancing mermaids aside the beautiful love story that compelled a sea creature to leave every thing else for true love felt much more deserving of a happily ever after
than anything else. Then life happened and as I grew up I learned the real story didn't end the way as show in the movie. Mermaid was the only one of my fairytale characters who didn't get an HEA. After all the sacrifices she made, she had to see her true love fall in love with someone else. "Tragic" was her story.

"Monstrous Beauty" does justice to the original mermaid lore. Not the Disney version of a dancing singing one but the killer, seductive one. The story begins with the introduction of "Syrenka" who true to her form is a immortal mermaid who yearns for a life on the land with a human she has fallen in love with. A human she watches from afar and learning. That story comes to an end very soon quite unexpectedly by which point you realise that this author is one to watch out for. Then you are introduced to Hester a 17 year old girl present day who's inner monologues reveal that she believes her family to be cursed and she is prevented from falling in love and having a family because of this curse. How Syrenka's story is connected to Hester's is the thing that we are trying to unfold with each passing chapters. The deep connection both of the characters have to the ocean, the characters they meet and the relationship they end up in all have a kind of resonance that you try your at most to bring out a connection between everything but what ever you come up is never enough.

The character all have a salty feel to them or you may feel so because the ocean plays a vital role in the drama that unfolds. Syrenka's love interest Ezra for one had my heart weeping yet he felt really contrived most of the time. The character of Olaf even though at first feels like a passing character plays a very significant role which brings about one of the turning points in the story. I really did have a hard time picturing the things that were said to be done but it add fuel to the dark glamour of this story. Syrenka herself is a very unusual character to consider as a lead but she does manage to take this story to a completely different level. Hester however is the inconsistent one of the lot. Many times I felt like just skipping her story and moving on to Syrenka's. She did wallow a bit too much in self pity and didn't have the kind of depth the other characters had. This becomes highly evident when her story is told in parallel with Syrenka's. The climax was the only slightly predictable part of this story and felt a bit off but it doesn't throw you completely off. A fresh and innovative read that brings the mermaid lore to life with all the magic and sadness associated with it. Miss it at your own risk. (less)

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Feb 11, 2013 ♥Rachel♥ rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Recommended to ♥Rachel♥ by: Arlene

Shelves: audio-book

Monstrous Beauty was disturbing, tragic and yet beautiful and hopeful.

Hester comes from a tragic line of women. Each mother in her family who’s given birth has dies within days of delivery. Hester’s mother, her grandmother, her great-grandmother, and so on. Hester believes this is some sort of genetic anomaly and the only way to avoid death is to avoid love, marriage and pregnancy. Little does she know that this affliction is anything but genetic but stems from something far more sinister. The...more

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Jul 31, 2012 Rayne rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, ghosts, magic, mermaids-or-sea-folk, romance, stand-alone-novel, victims-of-the-insta-love-monster, you-have-disturbed-me, young-adult, arc, 2012-favorites

This book is hauntingly beautiful and, to a point, I loved it, which is why I'm giving it 4 stars. It should be a 5 star rating and I've considered changing it many times because I did love this book and it is way better than some of the other books I've rated with the same amount of stars, but I didn't like the protagonist and I never felt like her interactions with other characters were realistic.

- Edit: 04/20/2012 -

I just finished another mermaid book and it's funny that it took another merma...more

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Sep 05, 2012 Kwinn marked it as to-read

Shelves: arc-s, dying-to-read, amazing-covers

i like this cover than the new one
i don't know why but to me the old cover is more alluring
and it fits the title well :)

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Sep 10, 2012 Navdha rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: idon-tlikethatcharacter, ilovethecoveromg, it-was-okay-ish, not-very-happy, not-what-i-expected, should-i-even-bother, turned-out-better-later, yay-it-s-over

A mermaid fascinated by human, stalks him, falls in love with him and the human blinded by her beauty and simply fascinated stays close; then in the moment of heat, human gets pulled underwater, mermaid forgets he needs air to breathe and ends up killing him.

Oh no, that's not the spoiler for you, that's only the prologue. I should've known it wasn't a book for me right then, but I try not giving up a book before I read at least 100 pages of it. Monstrous Beauty is a love-story with a mysterious...more

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Oct 16, 2011 Carol Saller rated it 5 of 5 stars

[Disclosure: I had the good fortune to read this book before publication, since the author is a friend.]

Monstrous Beauty has all the ingredients to become a classic: complex characters, meticulous plotting, intelligent prose, and page-turning situations. The opening pages grabbed me by the throat—and by the heart—and kept me reading.

Syrenka is an original. No Disney mermaid, she is a true creature of the sea, animal-like in her instincts and morals. Her transition to human form is anguished and...more [Disclosure: I had the good fortune to read this book before publication, since the author is a friend.]

Monstrous Beauty has all the ingredients to become a classic: complex characters, meticulous plotting, intelligent prose, and page-turning situations. The opening pages grabbed me by the throat—and by the heart—and kept me reading.

Syrenka is an original. No Disney mermaid, she is a true creature of the sea, animal-like in her instincts and morals. Her transition to human form is anguished and difficult, and we ache for her in spite of her blemished character. One of the pleasures of the book is watching Syrenka evolve as she learns to live with her newly acquired soul. In addition, the history and lore and culture of the undersea realm that Syrenka comes from, with it’s horrifying queen Noo’kas, are fully realized.

The book is ingeniously plotted without reliance on coincidence or contrivance. Much of current YA literature is cranked out to a formula; it is a rare treat to find a book written with this level of care and craft. The twists and revelations are so well planned and paced that the climax took me totally by surprise—although in hindsight, I could see that all the groundwork had been laid and that everything made perfect sense.

Anyone who knows Beth Fama knows how much time and energy she would devote to researching the remotest details in a book like this—whether on marine life, nineteenth-century dress and manners, or the best way to kill someone slowly. What is astonishing is how seamlessly she was able to integrate that knowledge into the book so as to enrich but not distract.

And did I mention the romance? Oh, yes—the story includes a dreamy male love interest, Ezra. A complicated guy. With issues.

The excitement never lets up, with present-day Hester’s mysterious ties to the sea, to the past, to a possible family curse; mermaids, secrets, ghosts, murder. And all of it holds together in a tight drama that builds to a wrenching but inevitable, and satisfying, resolution.

I wholeheartedly recommend this book!
(less)

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Sep 17, 2012 Cassi aka Snow White Haggard rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc-tour, read-in-2012

When I first started Monstrous Beauty I was practically begging "please don't be just another paranormal romance, please!" Mermaids are probably my favorite mythical creature andI have long searched for a good mermaid story. Most mermaid books just don't work for various reasons.

When the book started I was worried. The book begins in 1872, following the mermaid Syrenka who has fallen in love with a human. The book gets really dark really quick, setting a tone that lasts throughout the novel. I l...more When I first started Monstrous Beauty I was practically begging "please don't be just another paranormal romance, please!" Mermaids are probably my favorite mythical creature andI have long searched for a good mermaid story. Most mermaid books just don't work for various reasons.

When the book started I was worried. The book begins in 1872, following the mermaid Syrenka who has fallen in love with a human. The book gets really dark really quick, setting a tone that lasts throughout the novel. I liked the darkness. The immediate lovestory worried me. But the story wasn't actually about Syrenka and Ezra.

What may have seemed like a romance for the first few pages changed. It fast forwarded to modern times and started following Hester. The mystery took center stage--inexplicably rancid communion bread, an unsolved triple murder in a church crypt and stories about the church being haunted. From that point onward I couldn't put the book down.

Monstrous Beauty is a dark creepy paranormal. There is some romance, but it's more of a secondary plot. The story focuses on Hester as she unravels the dark secrets in her family's past. Hester's mother died shortly after childbirth, as did her grandmother before and great grandmother before her. In Hester's mind love and death are interwoven, so she has decided to shut herself down against even the possibility of being in a relationship.

The story jumps between present day in the 1872, revealing Hester's families past piece by piece. Both timelines are necessary and relevant to understand the mystery. Pieces of the past are revealed as Hester discovers them so that the reader can began to piece together the puzzle along with her.

The book is well written, allowing you to sympathize with both Hester in the present and Syrenka in the past. Also, the human "villains" are not simplistic, but complicated characters who's motivations you understand and even sympathize with at times. I always appreciate when all the characters are believable. Too often the heroines have understandable motivations, but the villains are just evil for the sake of being evil. But in this book almost everyone is doing what they think is right. Good and evil is not completely black and white.

Though there is a love story, which of course is my least favorite aspect, but when everything is revealed it actually makes sense. It never overwhelms the rest of the story, the mystery to unravelling the past is always the central plot-line and the romance advances the story. I may not like it but I understand it's purpose.

This is the best mermaid book I've read by far. What's more, is it's not just good in relation to other mermaid books, but actually a good book. If you're looking for a paranormal that's more creepy than lovesick then this is the book.

I received an ARC of this book from Southern Book Blogger ARC tours. If you live in the South and haven't signed up you should!(less)

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Jun 20, 2012 Laura rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-mt-bookpile

If you thought The Little Mermaid was sad - the original version, not the Disney one - and liked it, read this book.

Syrenka is obsessed with humans. She doesn't understand them at first, that they can't live underwater the way she can, but by the time she meets Ezra, she does. Ezra falls in love with her, writing pages and pages in his journal about her life (and that of the other mermaids) undersea and drawings of her. Note: this mermaid has fins on her arms (think Batman's costume) and they c...more

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Dec 11, 2012 Kimberly rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, young-adult, fantasy-sf

Very well-written with a complex, interesting, and unique mythology. Definitely not your typical paranormal story. For thoughtful readers and lovers of moody, immersive writing. I liked how different this story was, how well-crafted it was, and how it completely bucked my expectations. Fama backs up her complicated plot with very, very good writing, and that's just not something I can say a whole lot.

I also have to say, reading this book while my ears were full of fluid (fighting a sinus infecti...more

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Feb 12, 2013 Lea rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: awesome-world-building, couldnt-stop-reading, creepy, dark, epic-win, favorite, ghosts, gothic, historical-fiction, jump-off-the-page-characters, mermaids, mystery, quick-read, romance, supernatural

OK, so where do I even begin with this book... because I seriously LOVED IT!!! It's been awhile since I've read a bookwhere Ifelt totallycaptivated, where I was basically hanging on every word, and the more I read the more obsessed and involved I became with the story and characters... But Monstrous Beauty single-handedly was able to wipe from memory many of my horrible experiences I've had lately with several YA books, and has restored my faith in the genre as a whole.

YEAH. It was THAT good.

So...more

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Jan 27, 2013 Oceana Fern {Assorted Insanity} rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: owned, e-books, cover-lust, dat-title, four-stars, fantasy-romance, historical-fiction-romance, paranormal-romance-fiction, young-adult

3.5

I waited months for this book.

I feel really horrible about not liking MONSTROUS BEAUTY better. It was no doubt written beautifully, with an interestingly eery, gorgeous plot, and heart-wrenching scenes, but there were some things about it that took away from a 5-star rating.

Monstrous Beauty is split into three parts - Ezra in the 1870s, Syrenka in the 1870s, and present-day Hester. The three parts remain vastly different for me.

I absolutely adored Syrenka's story, and I enjoyed it even more w...more

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Aug 31, 2012 Lisa (Fic Talk) rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Fans of Proper Mermaid Stories

Recommended to Lisa (Fic Talk) by: Myself

Shelves: cover-lust, blew-my-mind, emotionally-invested, fantasy, flail, for-review, gorgeous-cover, grabby-hands, heaven-in-a-book, highly-anticipated, e-galley, magical, must-have, netgalley, pub-2012, romance, read-in-2012, super-excited-for, mermaids, mature-ya, 2012-favourites, young-adult, paranormal, read-a-long-w-heather, ghosts, historical-fiction, lovely-prose

How hard was it for me to come to this rating? Hard, I tell you. Hard. I completely loved this book, but it also completely devastated me. It was beautiful and dark, eerie and lush.

The writing was basically flawless for me. I could tell that the author really did some research on the topics that she was writing about. I could see what I was reading. I was transported to each setting and each time-frame.

You see, for me, Mermaids have always been known as evil sea creatures. They have. I grew up o...more

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May 13, 2013 Sex in the Library rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: death, paranormal, violence, young-adult, no-sex, teen-romance

Another mermaid book where mermaids are killers!

However, in 1872, the mermaid Syrenka falls in love with the human Ezra, allowing him to study her, revealing mermaids’ secrets to him, to be recorded in his journal. Fast forward to the present day, where Hester knows that the women in her family have all died shortly following the birth of a baby girl. She has therefore vowed never to love anyone. Of course, she meets a handsome stranger on the beach and falls in love. Hester also feels the pres...more

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Apr 25, 2013 Wynne Kontos rated it 4 of 5 stars

I found Elizabeth Fama's "Monstrous Beauty" here on Goodreads, after I recognized the cover from one of my Barnes and Nobles' trips where I book browsed for too long. It's a pretty cover, right?

I think it was Fama who wrote a controversial (for the literary world anyway), blog post about why ARC's are detrimental to an author's final product. I tried to read it, but Fama had removed it due to the large amounts of said controversy it created. (If this was not Fama, disregard these sentences entir...more I found Elizabeth Fama's "Monstrous Beauty" here on Goodreads, after I recognized the cover from one of my Barnes and Nobles' trips where I book browsed for too long. It's a pretty cover, right?

I think it was Fama who wrote a controversial (for the literary world anyway), blog post about why ARC's are detrimental to an author's final product. I tried to read it, but Fama had removed it due to the large amounts of said controversy it created. (If this was not Fama, disregard these sentences entirely). The only reason I bring this up, is because 1. Fama had a point, though not a popular one and 2. That had no influence whatsoever on the delightful read that was "Monstrous Beauty."

Now don't let that lovely cover fool you. Sure, the book is about mermaids, ("supernatural" stuff), but Fama has chosen a mythological creature that is rooted in mystery and evil. Part of the reason I think mermaids and the like have captured popular attention for so long. Despite my affection for Disney movies, they were not what I was typically fed as a child. When my classmates were playing with Barbies, my father was giving me a fully illustrated, watercolor version of the Odyssey, and the original Hans Christian Anderson (a very nice Anderson anthology I wrote in at Preschool and was later reprimanded for). If you're familiar with Greek mythology and the Anderson I was raised on, then you know the stories are dark and often violent. To me this was normal. I didn't know that not every child knew the original Little Mermaid's legs gave her pains as though stabbed with a knife, or that Odysseus renamed himself "No Man" to the Cyclops before blinding him.
Perhaps this is why I could enjoy so fully the fantasy world Fama created in her novel.

The story follows Syrenka, and her unfortunate attraction to human, mortal men. By spying on them and learning their ways she becomes attached, and inevitably cannot resist the temptation to speak to them. Of course, the human, mortal men back in Syrenka's day are similar to modern men in that when a half naked, beautiful woman tells them she has feelings (regardless of her cat eyes or fish tail,) they are definitely interested. A disastrous first encounter with a human man has Syrenka realizing in horrific ways the differences between herself, a soul less sea creature, and mortal man. So that when many decades later she is again attracted to Ezra, a young, handsome naturualist, she resists. It is Ezra that coaxes Syrenka, against her better judgment, to love him. Their love has terrible consequences.

Flash forward to modern day, where Hester Goodwin (a name she must've inherited from the original Pilgrims of Plymouth, where the story is set) is doomed never to love a man or bear children. Haunted by what Hester is convinced is a pattern (all women on her mother's side have died within days of child birth), she thinks to love another is only to set herself up for pain. And Hester is no stranger to pain. Having lost her mother early (see above), and forcing herself never to love outside her family, she's experienced a mostly isolated life. When strange events begin to occur in her hometown of Plymouth, Hester realizes her family's history may be the key to unraveling the mysteries. It's not until Hester meets a handsome, charismatic stranger on the beach that she finds it might be her alone with the ability to right centuries of wrong..and for the first time she begins to fall in love.
Readers who are quick to catch on will likely find things out before Hester does, but I didn't find myself too frustrated by this. Since I was still unsure how everything would end up, it didn't bother me that I had some things figured out before she did.

Fama writes beautifully. She transitions are seamless between the past and present stories, and neither one is more interesting than the other. I find that when a book changes perspective or story lines, I tend to favor one narrator/character, or prefer a story line, but not in this case.
Hester is a likeable lead. She's smart and resourceful, but not above feeling human emotion. Fama does a pretty good job of covering all her what-ifs. As in: wouldn't somebody see Character A snooping around a graveyard if it was in the afternoon? Fama doesn't leave any of those pesky openings uncovered, as is so frequently done in YA supernatural stories. If you follow my reviews at all, you know that is a huge pet peeve of mine in YA books. For some reason, authors constantly neglect that their characters are TEENAGERS and therefore have parents to check up on them, and no money, and few resources...their circumstances should reflect as such in the story.
Syrenka and Ezra's story line is gruesome, a couple of the chapters stayed in my mind even after I'd set the book down. It is a murder mystery after all, and Fama spares nothing.

The story was exciting, unique, well written and fast paced. I had it read in two days. Definitely a great story to read in bed on a rainy day, or plopped on a beach with nothing but hours in front of you. It'll suck you in...(less)

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Apr 23, 2013 Pinkie Pie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: own-read, signed

Wow. It's been quite some time since I've read a book so well written. Elizabeth Fama truly is a master of words - her writing is evocative and aware and thoughtful. She is a real story teller. Somehow she managed to create this vivid, tangled-up plot, and sympathetic, captivating characters that added even more life to an already beautiful story.

I absolutely loved the mermaid lore in this book. Fama hearkens back to the original mermaids: animal-like creatures with vicious pointy teeth, who sed...more Wow. It's been quite some time since I've read a book so well written. Elizabeth Fama truly is a master of words - her writing is evocative and aware and thoughtful. She is a real story teller. Somehow she managed to create this vivid, tangled-up plot, and sympathetic, captivating characters that added even more life to an already beautiful story.

I absolutely loved the mermaid lore in this book. Fama hearkens back to the original mermaids: animal-like creatures with vicious pointy teeth, who seduce and murder their land-dwelling neighbors. Those who lived in this little fishing town were terrified of the sea folk and made no attempts to hide it. Monstrous Beauty was way more than just a mermaid book though; there is romance and a century old curse, a little bit of sleuthing, and some ghost. It seems like it could be all over the place with that many ingredients, but they are all pulled together so perfectly and unexpectedly.

There is a wonderful, colorful cast of characters, each fleshed out and unique to each other. But my favorite character by far was Ezra, the young man who fell in love with the mermaid Syrenka. I loved how inquisitive he was, and how much he adored and admired Syrenka. He was open and accepting and I believe he truly loved her. He did what he could to protect her and save her, and in the end payed the ultimate price. When he comes back to modern times and meets Hester, I love him just the same. It is his innocence and his openness that draws me to him.

The only character I couldn't really connect to was Hester. I didn't really feel like I got to know her. The only things I do know about her are her family curse and that she likes history. The rest is pretty much just a blank slate. I can't really pin down her motivations, besides to keep the plot moving. She was very closed-off from the people around her, and in turn to the reader, even if it was told in first person. The plot and the other characters, though, we well enough to make me keep reading.

Monstrous Beauty is not your typical mermaid book. I wouldn't even call it your typical YA book. There is paranormal romance to be sure, but it is like no paranormal romance you've seen before. The sea folk of this book are beautiful, brutal monsters. And with well-rounded, lovable characters, and a complex and enthralling plot, Monstrous Beauty is a must read for lovers of magic, romance and the gray areas between good and evil.(less)

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Apr 09, 2013 Emily rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2013-reading-challenges, audio, fantasy, yalsa-challenge-2013, ya-fiction

Why I picked it up: YALSA challenge

There are two stories here, told in alternating chapters, with the overlaps eventually becoming clear. Sea woman Syrenka (the water women themselves never say “mermaid”) falls for a young naturalist in the 1800s. In present day, Hester is 17, lives with her family, and works at the Plymouth living history museum interpreting a historical settler.

It took me a long time to get into. Honestly, if it hadn’t been for a challenge, I probably would have given up. I wo...more

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Mar 25, 2013 Debbie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2013-yalsa-hub-reading-challenge, fantasy, folktales, historical-fiction, romance, young-adult-lit

Marvelous story. Marvelous, lush writing. Did I mention that this story is marvelous?

Syrenka is a mermaid, but more of the Brothers Grimm variety than the Disneyfied version we've come to know. She is immortal and deadly, but willing to risk everything when she falls in love with Ezra. They are happy for a time, but the consequences of Syrenka's choices prove deadly.

Many generations later, Hester meets a handsome young man on the beach; the two feel an instant connection, like they've known each...more

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Dec 06, 2012 Siman rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: beautiful-prose, mythology-sea-folk, ya, ya-paranormal, ya-eery-creepy, ya-dark-twisted-interesting

Absolutely breath-taking, utterly engaging and thrilling. This novel is special and unique. The most haunting and beautiful mermaid tale I’ve read in a while of love, suffering, murder and sacrifice. Fama created a magnificent universe. This book was deeply touching and extremely affecting…

Fama is a talented story-teller but I felt that the plot was not very fulfilling and some events were unnecessary and superfluous. Also, I never did care for Hester – who unlike Syrenka remained a one-dimensi...more

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