Book Review | The Beautiful by Renée Ahdieh

Happy Thursday my lovely readers. Today I’m bringing you a review of dark fantasy that I simply loved. Lately I’ve been into vampires books as a whole, with Midnight Sun and rewatching Discovery of Witches. Steph from Bookslovereaders recommended me this for a while that it was about time I read it. Plus the sequel The Damned has just been released which I will need to read ASAP. So enough of my rambling, let head onto the review.

The Beautiful (The Beautiful, #1) by Renée Ahdieh
Published by Hodder & Stoughton on October 8, 2019
Genres: Fantasy, Historical
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New York Times bestselling author Renée Ahdieh returns with a sumptuous, sultry and romantic new series set in 19th century New Orleans where vampires hide in plain sight.
In 1872, New Orleans is a city ruled by the dead. But to seventeen-year-old Celine Rousseau, New Orleans provides her a refuge after she's forced to flee her life as a dressmaker in Paris. Taken in by the sisters of the Ursuline convent along with six other girls, Celine quickly becomes enamored with the vibrant city from the music to the food to the soirées and—especially—to the danger. She soon becomes embroiled in the city's glitzy underworld, known as Le Cour des Lions, after catching the eye of the group's leader, the enigmatic Sèbastien Saint Germain. When the body of one of the girls from the convent is found in the lair of Le Cour des Lions, Celine battles her attraction to him and suspicions about Sèbastien's guilt along with the shame of her own horrible secret.
When more bodies are discovered, each crime more gruesome than the last, Celine and New Orleans become gripped by the terror of a serial killer on the loose—one Celine is sure has set her in his sights . . . and who may even be the young man who has stolen her heart. As the murders continue to go unsolved, Celine takes matters into her own hands and soon uncovers something even more shocking: an age-old feud from the darkest creatures of the underworld reveals a truth about Celine she always suspected simmered just beneath the surface.
At once a sultry romance and a thrilling murder mystery, master storyteller Renée Ahdieh embarks on her most potent fantasy series yet: The Beautiful.

My Review

The days of vampire books has returned and it’s like the inner teenager in me who loved Twilight and the beginnings of Vampire Diaries is back. It’s been so long, it’s like vampire books was just a phase but I think they are slowly coming back and I love that. The best thing of all, I had no expectations with The Beautiful, I didn’t know what I was going to get, but I did found was a completely original take of a vampire fantasy New Adult type novel.

We are living in the 19th Century, Celine Rousseau has had too fled Paris after a something awful happened to her. She’s on her way to New Orleans to reset her path, living in Ursuline Convent to reset her life. But she gets enthralled in the glamour and richness that is New Orleans especially with at The Court of Lions. Occupied by a group of inhuman members that rule the darkness more than the light. It isn’t until that Celine’s friend is murdered in the midst of the group that she gets tied to them, especially to a dark, handsome and sexy (who knows it) leader Sebastien Saint Germain. Secrets are spilling, more bodies and murders directly tied to Celine and she is sucked into an underworld that rules New Orleans.

As I said whilst we expect vampires and there is, but this book is more about setting the scene and boy does it do that. I absolutely loved the historical and fanatical element to this book, which most vampiric type novels don’t usually include. That was set both in the past and present of New Orleans and I loved how addictive it was. Much like this book. There is more of an element of the unknown and mystery when you cross the past and the supernatural. Renée’s writing is mesmerising especially with the world building of The Beautiful. Set in New Orleans, it has this mystical, magical, ethereal beauty to it that’s completely enthralling. It’s set in a century of richness, vibrancy, glamour, lustrous balls and beautiful gowns and carnivals and celebrations. It reminded me a lot of The Originals spin off to VD that I loved. That was set both in the past and present of New Orleans and I loved how addictive it was. Much like this bookLike it’s a whole new world in just one town.

“And the infinite captivates us because it allows us to believe all things are possible. That true love can last beyond time.”

Celine Rousseau is one tough character. I loved her and that she was honestly full of surprises and her character is way beyond 19th Century women. She isn’t longed for the world of walking away, she will fight with all of her might. Nobody tells her what to do and she walks into ball and separates people because of her strength. She was made for New Orleans, especially for the darker side. In all fairness a lot of Renee’s character were shunned upon in that time and I loved in the inclusivity especially that of Odette and Arjun being my favourite of the Court. Now we can’t not mention Bastien, my oh my, queue the blushes. He was hot, and intense, boy was he, it’s like he could undress you in just one look. He was the guy of the book that brought the sexiness and sultry romance to the book. You may need to fan yourself. I can’t wait for The Damned.

As I said The Beautiful wasn’t perfect for me, I wish it had more vampires, or the obvious nature to them being in the book. But Renée has purposely written it that way to entice you into this new underworld of dark creatures. I loved the world building which for me is a highlight of the book. I’m addicted to it and I can’t wait to immerse myself in Celine and Bastien world in The Damned.  The Beautiful is rich, enticing, addictive and sultry original vampire romance. It’s a new era of vampire novels. Read it!

Thank you to Hodder Books for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review.