From the Bookshelf of Addicted to YA…

Beautiful Creatures (Caster Chronicles, #1)

Kami Garcia,

Margaret Stohl

Start date: January 1, 2013

Finish date: January 31, 2013

Discussion: BOTM Currently Reading

Why we're reading this: It won the poll for the January series BOTM.
[close] It won the poll for the January series BOTM.

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What Members Thought

Jan 21, 2013 Vanessa Gayle ⚔️ Fangirl Faction rated it really liked it

Shelves: fantasy, paranormal, own-ebook-read, audio, reviewed, romance, reread, urban-fantasy, young-adult, tortured-hero-or-heroine

10/18/2022: Reread on audiobook!
I first read this book almost ten years ago and I never posted a review. I wanted to finish the series so I decided that a reread was in order.

This is the only book that I have read by this author duo. I really like their combined writing style. It is smooth and relatable. It's not hard to put yourself in the shoes of the characters. I also really like the plot. It is compelling and interesting and keeps the reader hooked. The world-building is very atmospheric. 10/18/2022: Reread on audiobook!
I first read this book almost ten years ago and I never posted a review. I wanted to finish the series so I decided that a reread was in order.

This is the only book that I have read by this author duo. I really like their combined writing style. It is smooth and relatable. It's not hard to put yourself in the shoes of the characters. I also really like the plot. It is compelling and interesting and keeps the reader hooked. The world-building is very atmospheric. The book takes place in South Carolina and the book captures many southern attitudes very well. I thought that the representation of southern culture was handled with grace.

I really liked that the book it told from a male perspective. Most young adult fantasy and paranormal books circa the 2000s have female POVs. It was refreshing to have a male perspective. Even if the book is very much about Lena, the story is told by Ethan. I felt myself relating to the characters so easily. I thought that both main characters had some really great backgrounds and development. Each character experiences quite a bit of character growth throughout the book. All of the secondary characters were delightful as well. There is such a wide array of characters that take part in this story. They are so entertaining.

The romance in the book was very sweet. I loved how Ethan gravitated toward Lena. Ethan was a more open-minded person in his small town and he didn't judge Lena the way that everyone else did. He was compassionate and caring. I loved how he slowly won Lena over. They started spending time together and just got lost in each other. There were some paranormal circumstances at play as well but the romance was mostly two teens connecting and falling in love.

Overall, this book is a breath of fresh air. I loved the whole concept of the story and how the authors orchestrated everything. I am so eager to pick up the next book and see how things progress in this fascinating world.

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Dec 28, 2012 Jenn rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2013-favorites

I'm an unbiased YA fan, in the sense that I care more about enjoying the emotions and the love story than making sure it's a politically correct example of modern day teenagers. And this particular love story had a bit of mystery, fantasy, suspense, good vs evil, and history to it. It was entertaining, and easy to get involved in.

Although, if you want to get preachy about it, it was nice to see a book like this written from the guy's perspective. This wasn't the stereotypical "dumb girl" that wi I'm an unbiased YA fan, in the sense that I care more about enjoying the emotions and the love story than making sure it's a politically correct example of modern day teenagers. And this particular love story had a bit of mystery, fantasy, suspense, good vs evil, and history to it. It was entertaining, and easy to get involved in.

Although, if you want to get preachy about it, it was nice to see a book like this written from the guy's perspective. This wasn't the stereotypical "dumb girl" that will do or give anything to follow a guy around (whether he had special powers or not). But what annoyed me about that, is those girls still existed in this world. And the one girl that had redeeming qualities - Lena - was of course, gothy and punky. Because naturally, only gothy-punky girls that wear all black and don't care to put any time into how they look can have an ounce of intelligence! (thankyouverymuch) I realize that her character had to appear a bit dark to enhance the creep factor. My point is simply that there's a negative argument for every type of character in YA, but it's never enough to distract me away from the plot or main conflicts.

There were a few inconsistencies that I couldn't ignore. For example, in the chapter about Lena's birthday party, she & Ethan kept grabbing for each other's hands every-other paragraph. So unless their hand holding only lasted for a couple seconds, followed by dropping them, and holding them again, and dropping them again...this was an annoying mistake. I know it's kind of an inconsequential detail, but when you're reading along and painting a mental picture of the scene, and their position is changing every other paragraph, it's jarring. You picture them holding hands, and then are told Ethan grabs for her hand two paragraphs later....so your picture of them holding hands then seems wrong. Inconsistencies like that, in the story telling, bother me more than in historical fact.

There were enough questions left unanswered to inspire to me to read the rest of the series, so I will, but at the same time...I'm actually hoping (for once) that the movie is better than the book. The trailers look so intense and detailed, and while I was entertained enough through the book, I feel as though the Caster details will translate better on screen. If only they didn't cast such a supremely ugly Ethan. Seriously, I can't get past the shape of his head enough to root for their relationship the way I'm supposed to...blech.

At any rate...

Definitely worth a read if you're looking for a mystery/fantasy-infused YA series to delve into!
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Jan 25, 2013 Helen rated it really liked it

Interesting story. New take on witches. The setting is pretty nice too, descriptions and the town's quirks are kinda endearing in a way. And its told in the point of view of the guy! Yay! ...more

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May 31, 2011 Mindi Poelwijk rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: audiobook, read-in-2011

4.5 stars. Loved the mystery in this book. Also like the small bit of historical flare.

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Jan 17, 2013 Dr. Jill Bartholomew, EdD rated it liked it

I'm teetering between 3 and 4 stars...say 3.5. It just needs something else to be spectacularly memorable. Will read the rest of the series though. ...more

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