Bumpy Oak Books

** I came to be in possession of an ARC, but the ARC was NOT provided to me by the publisher. In good faith, I’ll write a quick review anyhow. 🙂 **

4 stars

Renee Ahdieh’s newest work, The Beautiful, has been hailed as the book to bring vampires back to YA. There are vampires. This is YA. So, in that regard, yeah?

It was a good bit of fun seeing all of the different vampire works that Ahdieh took inspiration from and trickled throughout the work like little Easter eggs for oldschool vampire fans. I understand that other people found this to be less of an homage and more of a rip off, but I didn’t have any particular issue with it.

I felt that Ahdieh did take the time to develop the characters, even if things did feel a bit trope-y with the budding relationship between Sebastien and Celine. And Celine and Michael. Because, of course, there’s a pseudo-love triangle.

The pacing was quite nice, and Ahdieh has laid out a solid starting point for the sequel. There are definitely aspects of the New Orleans society of this novel that I am eager to explore in future books. Without spoilers, I am most excited by the alliances, the treaties, and the groups of preternatural creatures that are likely to come and be featured in higher prominence.

Overall, this isn’t a new all-time favorite, but was a solid good time and definitely makes me interested in following the rest of the series.