Beautiful Creatures (Caster Chronicles, #1) in Once Upon a Twilight blog

Feb 04, 2011 Mummy Cat Claire rated it liked it

Shelves: ya-novels, series, read-in-2011

I didn't hate this book, but I didn't love it. It kinda pissed me off that it was so huge. I have read my share of long books, but this one is small writing, at 563 pages. I really felt it was too long. After finishing it, I have forgotten so much of the story that I felt like I might have to re-read the book to really take hold of the things that happen and remember them. That isn't going to happen. So it is no wonder that it was a bit overwhelming for me as a reader.
The ending was so so for m I didn't hate this book, but I didn't love it. It kinda pissed me off that it was so huge. I have read my share of long books, but this one is small writing, at 563 pages. I really felt it was too long. After finishing it, I have forgotten so much of the story that I felt like I might have to re-read the book to really take hold of the things that happen and remember them. That isn't going to happen. So it is no wonder that it was a bit overwhelming for me as a reader.
The ending was so so for me. It really lacked any resolution and made it less worthwhile to finalize such a freakin long book. There was no closure with the characters and the book ended leaving me with many questions, making me, as a reader, very frustrated. I do realize this book is one of a series and certainly more information will be revealed. However, if the subsequent novels are like this one, I'm not sure I can make it through them.

I found Ethan's aunts to be very entertaining characters. They were only supporting characters but very well written, all the same.
The relationship between Ethan and his father was strange. I can understand when one needs to take a time out, but his father just checked out and for me it was very odd that Ethan had no empathy for his father. He just pitied him, bordering on hate.

The authors took the perspective of the teenage boy, Ethan, throughout the novel. This was interesting. I agree that overall, the book didn't have that very convincing Male point of view, but this didn't bother me.

Overall, I felt the warnings and seriousness of the plot fell apart. This is because over and over again the two characters, Lena and Ethan were given warning after warning, similar to a child being threatened with time out over and over and no time out is ever given. By the end of the book it all became just something said and very pointless. Especially since they never listened to anyone and did what they wanted and nothing happened to them.

I really wanted to like this book more. I did like the feel of the book, taking place in the deep south and the concept of ancestral mysteries but the book just fizzed out by the end. Making me feel like I wasted a long time getting to the end. I love the concept of what the authors created and the characters but I just can't get over the length of the book and the fact that I came away feeling unsatisfied.

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Sep 30, 2010 Ange (Our Epic TBR List) Schmelzer rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Ethan Wate is at the top of the food chain in the small southern town of Gatlin, South Carolina. That is until he meets Lena Duchannes, the new girl who lands at the very bottom of the food chain in Gatlin as the niece of the infamous recluse Macon Ravonwood. They find they are drawn to eachother until nothing else matters but being with eachother even though Lena is a Castor from a long line of Castors both Light and Dark. The only problem is that on the 16th birthday of every member of Lena's ...more

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Sep 14, 2010 Sara Heacox rated it it was amazing

Shelves: eves-fan-garden

I started this book last spring and put it down for whatever reasons when I was about 50 pages in. What was I thinking!! Once I picked it up again, I couldn't put it down. It is a beautiful story. The setting is so dark and gothic. A novel set in the south has an old quality to it. Southern Plantations, Civil War memories all provide a stunning backdrop to this novel. At the center is the love story between Ethan and Lena. It is a love that is much deeper than their 16 years. I loved the suspens ...more

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Apr 03, 2010 Megan (magan bagan) rated it it was amazing

Shelves: fantasy

Okay, when I first began reading this book I fell in love with the fact that is was based in the South. Being a Southern girl born and raised, it made my day. Then, the further I delved into the story, the more I fell in love with the characters and the plot.

Ethan Wate is just like every other sixteen year old boy in the town of Gatlin. He's on the basketball team, has the right friends, he's one of them. Only, he's not. Ethan has been waiting for something, anything, to happen since his mother ...more

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Oct 08, 2010 Kaitlyn Francis rated it it was amazing

Shelves: reviewed, own, favorites, books-signed, book-movie

The story is so beautiful, while reading it you feel for the new girl in a small town. I loved he point of view from Ethan who looked towards the future than regretted it every day because it meant one less day with Lena. These two together made sense even if the whole town thought she was for the town and because she had a uncle the town only saw him as their own Boo Radley. I very fortunate to have the two wonderful women who wrote this extraordinary story, Lena's and Ethan's fate is not over ...more

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Aug 18, 2010 Jennifer Provost rated it liked it

I liked this book, but I think what draws me to the book is its quirky aspects, rather than the story. The story can be boiled down to boy + girl = forbidden love. Actually, he's a Mortal and she's a Caster, so we're talking forbidden for hundreds of years. But the lovers persevere in their quest to be together.

The story is pretty good, but like I said, I liked the quirkyness. For instance, it's told from the boy's point of view. Aslo, this is set in the South - and it's the Ral South! They spe ...more

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Mar 04, 2010 Mindy/fangedmom rated it it was amazing

So far, I am HOOKED! I am loving this book already. I love the southern setting, the magic, the dark and light. I love it all. Sure has my attention! Cant wait to read more.

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Feb 24, 2011 Patty rated it liked it · review of another edition

I found this book a little too hard to get into. There were times where the plot just kept dragging. It wasn't until the end where I got to see some action. This book wasn't all bad, but there were some things that could have been cut and the story would have been fine. ...more

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