Common Sense Media Review
By Julie A. Carlson
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
More black magic, less exciting action in third outing.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 13+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
What's the Story?
Ethan and Lena continue their romance in Book 3 of the popular Beautiful Creatures teen series. A plague has consumed Gatlin and the people who live there. The incubus Abraham Ravenwood and the Demon Queen, Sarafine, also remain as prominent evil-doers, wreaking havoc on everyone's lives. Ethan and Lena both struggle to understand her claiming as both a Light and Dark Caster and how her 18th birthday will affect the \"Order of Things\" in the Mortal and Caster worlds.
Is It Any Good?
BEAUTIFUL CHAOS digs deeper into black magic, coincidences, and the Caster world. The characters continue to grow and learn how they can stop the Dark Casters before they destroy not only sleepy town of Gatlin, but the entire world. At first, kids may be entertained by the story, but might quickly become bored by this lengthy tome. The story isn't as exciting as the first book, which not only gave readers a fresh take on paramormal romance but also brought in themes of prejudice, bullying, and being an outcast, especially in high school. The characters are rarely at school. The history of the Civil War, which was an appealing part of the first book, is also missing from the pages of Beautiful Chaos. Some of the more fun chapters have the characters step into the Caster Tunnels, New Orleans, and back in school participating in normal activities, like sports and dances. At times Beautiful Chaos is too dark and brooding. Readers need a breather from the evil with some happiness and light. Unfortunately, Beautiful Chaos gives us neither.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the Caster Chronicles series. How does Beautiful Chaos compare with Book 1 and Book 2? How does the movie Beautiful Creatures compare with the first book of the same name?
How far would you go to help you someone you love? Would you sacrifice yourself for them?
The Crucible, To Kill A Mockingbird, Frankenstein, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, and Great Expectations are featured in the novel. Have you read any of these classic stories? Do you feel the Caster Chronicles series is inspired by these classic tales? Does it mirror them in some ways?
Book Details
- Authors :
- Genre : Fantasy
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic ) , Friendship , School ( High School )
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
- Publication date : October 18, 2011
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 12 - 18
- Number of pages : 576
- Available on : Paperback, Nook, Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : December 3, 2025
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