The Beautiful (The Beautiful #1) by Renee Ahdieh - Restarting February 25th 2024

[Danique]

Malvolio
(view spoiler)[I haven’t really been enjoying my BRs lately lol, I hope this’ll be better. No clue what this’ll be about, but it’s already quite mysterious! Celine is from France but is going to New Orleans, a city of magic eheh. Can’t wait to figure out what brings her here. I’m already enjoying the atmosphere! It’s kinda how I imagine that other book with the woman in the dress on the cover, Mexican Gothic or something? Idk the title.

Omg she killed someone? Daaamn I love the mysteriousness. Noémie got murdered omg what are the odds that that was the same dude as Celine saw? And he spoke French!

So she used to design dresses & now has to find a new task at the church/covent. Also can’t wait to find out more about Pippa’s reasons for coming here. So her mother was from the orient, which isn’t accepted everywhere. Can’t wait to find out whether her mother has some magical descent too teehe. So something happened in the atelier and now she’s even lying about where she worked to hide her involvement. Omg tell me already. I already love Odette, although she responded oddly to Celine’s touch so I feel like she’s supernatural or knows more. Idk what to expect so I’m expecting everything 🤣 I feel vampirey vibes. I’m guessing some guy tried to rape her? (hide spoiler)]

[Danique]

An aerialist on a tightrope
(view spoiler)[I love that we’re getting the POV of the killer too, he just wants to get attention of his enemy, maybe the court? I can’t wait to find out more. The killer spoke Italian too, what’s his background? She indeed killed a guy who tried to rape her. Sebastian is the guy she saw teehee, Odette mentioned him too! I wonder if he was defending her ehehe. I already adore their chemistry yay. Oh what did Arjun just do, is he supernatural too? Putting the guy to sleep so quickly?

Woah the killer isn’t Sebastian then damn! And he’s stalking Celine shite. Or is he stalking Pippa? Hope she won’t die. Already love the restaurant Jacques omg, the magic vibes and the amazing atmosphere are so good! Kassamir seems great too - I like how unracist they are. Why do so many people speak French tho? It’s America? I can understand French so it’s fine, but it’s just odd?

Odette had a drop of red on her cravat, is she a vampire too omg. She calls them mentalists, but they definitely have actual magic lmao. The gambling hall was so cool tho, and I love Odette’s oddity & lack of care. She can see the future!! That’s why she’s invited Celine for sure ehehe. That’s also why she responded so surprised to her touch. Ehehehe see, Bastien is connected to her & his uncle owns the buildings. I immediately think he’s evil for some reason lol. He has a PYTHON??? HAHAHAHAHAH I cannot. I’m laughing way too hard, why do I suddenly see Voldemort 🤣🤣🤣 Too funny. It was also quite funny how quickly the whole den was ready to protect/fight after Pippa’s scream lmao. I already adore Arjun HAHAHA love these characters so far. Their smugness and wit is great. Odette definitely saw something between Bastien and Celine in her future & that’s what she meant with ‘tamer of beasts’ but I’m SO here for it hahaha loving it. I love Bastien’s feministic attitude and their banter. Holy shite the killer killed Anabel!!!! (hide spoiler)]

The witching hour
(view spoiler)[I’m nearly convinced Grimaldi is the killer omg idk why. Also what did the killer mean when he said he couldn’t hurt the nephew of Saint Germain (Bastien), he couldn’t break that promise? I’m now realizing that, what was up with that?

Damn although Celine did play Grimaldi quite well, so maybe not? LMAO never mind. Why do I suddenly think the killer is a shadow, since Pippa did feel something before the snake came? Damn Bastien is really the one he’s after then! Maybe it’s the count - they haven’t seen him for a while, so maybe Bastien did something to him? Gosh I cannot wait. The mystery and suspense is killing me! Ajun just cracks me up lmao, but I do hope she’ll be the one to leave them gobsmacked somewhere in the future lol, it’s mostly them doing that to her so far🤣 I definitely think it’s Grimaldi ngl.

Ah so Bastien is called the ghost because all die around him, interesting. I love Celine’s attitude and attempt to hurt Bastien LMAAAAO. Odette’s relationship with Bastien cracks me up man🤣 so there’s a brotherhood and the ‘fallen’, Bastien is clearly the brotherhood while the killer is one of the fallen, vampires! Woah a Bastien chapter?!? Fuck yes. Bastien is BRUTAL but I’m cackling omg I love it. Ah I do hope Arjun isn’t evil tho, since he only joined Bastien a year ago :/ damn I wanted it to be a chapter about Celine shite.

Odette’s brooch, I wonder if it enables her to walk in the sun, like probably Bastien’s ring? I wonder whether the 'creature' inside of Celine is an actual creature and she’s inhuman too? Bastien saved her teehee I’m glad, although it was a test by the murderer. I just hate that she keeps looking like a fool in front of his court, I need them to be in awe too🤣 can’t wait for him to figure out what she did. The scene with the carnival was so good omg, I loved it. They confessed their feelings too but they’ll keep their distance aaaaah!!! And Bastien is human? No way. (hide spoiler)]

[Danique]

Beautiful decay
(view spoiler)[Omg the gardener was murdered in her cell!!!! Why is this demon so obsessed with her omg. I love the suspense and mystery; I’m enjoying it a lot so far!!

The mother superior isn’t as bad as I thought damn. I hate that she’s pushing Pippa away tho, poor thing. Also the killer quoted Shakespeare, not that many people do that, but apparently in this world everyone does. I love that Odette is gay, it fits her so well. Michael and Odette’s banter is also funny as hell. Damn I hope it isn’t him :( I honestly feel bad for Michael aw. I’m guessing Michael dated Bastiens sister?

Odette definitely influenced her omg. Oh no he can get into the hotel too, and he is after Nicodemus, Bastien's uncle!!! I definitely think this Marin that the killer talks about was Bastiens sister. Poor Pippa tho, I really hate how she treats her. Loving the party tho. Man they nearly kissed damn Celine!!! Bastien is all over the place tho damn, he’s so into her but then he doesn’t look at her at all. I think he really is human tho. Ah no he’s going to dump her to protect her isn’t he, these people need to stop doing that!!!

Omg she told him that she killed someone yay, he better not betray her. THEY KIIIIISSED FUCK YES! That definitely didn’t go as he planned lmao. Ahhhh the killer killed Nigel dammit I wanted them to have sex and now it got ruined lol. Intense.

Isn’t he just spelling Lyon? Or Michael then, since the letters can also mean C & A & L? I’m glad she at least saw through bastiens attempt to push her away. I do badly hope Michael isn’t evil, he seems so good :( but there’s literally no other guy - besides maybe Ajun - that could be the killer :( unless we haven’t met him but I don’t believe it. I liked his family but I feel so bad for him, he really does seem to be into her and he’ll lose to Bastien again :(

the court is here to warn her off? Don’t like his uncle & he’s clearly a vampire too - sadly the court really listens to him. I thought they’d be loyal to Bastien :( no dammit he wants her to cast Bastian aside and I already HATE it fuck. I’m so disappointed in Odette omg. I get that she thinks she can do it alone, but this isn’t like last time dammit! These are supernaturals and not some stupid boy, think woman. (hide spoiler)]

[Danique]

Finished
(view spoiler)[I love that she went in all black to a white tie event omg. LOVING IT. Her badassness is great. Wait, Arjun wasn’t there when the court told her to leave right? Maybe at least he is loyal. I’m scared of this deal with Nicodemus. Maybe it is Arjun then, since he seems to be missing from all of this.

So Nicodemus is all of their maker damn! Suddenly he’s madly in love with her? The change is quite sudden all of a sudden idk. Kinda love the banter between Michael and Bastien ngl LMAO. Wait see, there’s a promise that a saint germain can't strike a Grimaldi and the other way around omg it’s definitely a Grimaldi behind this. Maybe Luca? The brotherhoods treaty omg there’s still so much more to this that’s unexplained dammit!!!

Oh what? Nigel? He didn’t really leave any impression on me honestly, so I didn’t suspect him. Sort of surprised but also disappointed, was convinced it’d be Arjun with the British lol. She fiiiiinnally gets that they’re vampires. Odette did say her blood smelled different, I wonder why and whether it has to do with her mother. Now the court is here, seriously? It’s like they’re in with Nigel, coming way too late hmm. The saving was cute tho! No way Bastien’ll die lol.

Omg see the killer is someone else!!! Woah what? Bastien is his BROTHER? Woah it's his SISTER!!!!!!! Emilie!!!! She’s a WOLF!!!! And she’s with Luca omg SHOOKETH. Does that mean Michael knows?!?! I didn’t even think of it being a girl holy shite, I'm so surprised. I hope she isn’t impersonating Pippa or something then!!! I’m shook by that ending omg I cannot believe it.

We don’t actually know whether Bastien survived, and that means he turned into a vampire?!? Nico erased her memories of Bastien, and I’m guessing the entire court. But Michael will fill in some of those blanks right, and so will Pippa? It seems like a faulty plan. And fuck who’s Émilie?!? Have we seen her in disguise - was she nonna - Michael's grandmother? Gosh I hope not. And shite she’s now going to become closer with Michael bc she doesn’t know her other option. Fuck I’m so shook and heartbroken!! This was so good but damn that ending. It hurts!

Can we please do the next one too?? This has been on my TBR since forever and I’m so glad I finally picked it up. And what was with that epilogue?? Dammit I need to know if Bastien and the court are okay!!! And where the fuck was Arjun in those last scenes? I still don’t trust him. Shit!!!!!!! (hide spoiler)]

[Danique]

Jenn wrote: "19%: [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[I actually hadn't read this series before, but I definitely loved this one! Celine seems quite mysterious at this point (hide spoiler)]

[Jenn]

Danique wrote: "An aerialist on a tightrope."

(view spoiler)[ I love when authors give us the killer POVs. They're so dark and intriguing and just heighten the mystery. I also think I just remembered who the killer is haha. It's like a game now. See how much I remember HAHAHA. (hide spoiler)]

[Jenn]

Danique wrote: "The witching hour..."

(view spoiler)[ ok love the sprinkling of the bastien chapter. Ngl i think youre on to something with Grimaldi. The whole thing is fishy haha. Odette is one of my favorite characters. I love how she pretty much just speaks her mind regardless of what people think which for a woman during that time frame is insane! (hide spoiler)]

[Jenn]

Danique wrote: "Beautiful decay .."

(view spoiler)[ ok the mystery in this book is on point! I find myself running constant scenarios where im like its this person, no its this person haha.

So glad celine came clean about her past. You could tell how much it was weighing on her when it was so obviously not her fault. I mean, get sexually assaulted or protect yourself? Gee, i wonder what any person would do (hide spoiler)]

[Jenn]

Danique wrote: "Finished.."

I have the entire series so i am down to read them all. Ive only read the first two in series ans i obviously dont remember a whole lot from them (view spoiler)[ cause i completely forgot about emilie. I remembered the wolf part but i also remember thinking it was Michael. Maybe that was me remembering i thought it was Michael the first time around too LOL.

im so glad you liked it! Im also really happy it held up during my reread. Love the location, the story, the characters! (hide spoiler)]