Beautiful Creatures: Book 1
- By Kami Garcia, Margaret Stohl
- Genre: Fantasy
Common Sense Media says
Dreamy, lyrical supernatural Southern romance.
- By Kami Garcia, Margaret Stohl
- Genre: Fantasy
What parents need to know
Educational value
Positive role models
Violence
Sex
Language
Consumerism
Drinking, drugs, & smoking
Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that this love story between a mortal and a Caster (or witch) has plenty in common with Twilight. The romance is more dreamy than steamy (just lots of passionate kissing), the town is small with narrow-minded inhabitants, and there are some evil forces at work. Violence is mostly relegated to the final battle where some major characters die.
User reviews
Parents say
Kids say
What's the story?
In a small southern town among Civil War reenactments and misty plantations, 16-year-old Ethan literally meets the girl of his dreams when Lena moves in with the local recluse. A psychic connection speeds up their romance. Once Ethan accepts the truth that Lena's family are Casters (but not witches!) they discover more secrets must be revealed before Lena turns 16 and is Claimed by supernatural forces. Lena is ostracized at school, and soon in town, and a broken window leads to charges of mental illness and expulsion. Ethan tries to give Lena some normal teen experiences, but her birthday looms, estranged relatives arrive, and a battle of supernatural proportions ensues across graveyards and Civil War battle sites. Plenty of plots are left undone for the next saga in this gothic teen romance.
Is it any good?
QUALITY
There are many stock characters, both teen mean girls and powerful, intense older women alike, but the sweet romance, dark danger, and supernatural battles that sweep across a well-romantized background of Civil War deaths and teen parties will entrance teen readers and maybe as many adults as the Twilight Saga did. Ethan and Lena both write poetry -- and it all sounds like poetry by teens -- and song lyrics also play a large part in the story. Lena and Ethan are both somewhat tragic characters, innocent, upright, and well-intentioned. Ethan and his male friends are well written, and if the adult characters seem unoriginal, they are reliable and likable.
The book opens with some lovely, lyrical writing and it's hard to believe it was written by two authors collaborating. There were a few too many new characters thrown into the final battle, but readers can look for them in the sequel. Teen readers will likely appreciate the length of this gothic, Southern epic and be very happy to return to the sultry small town of Gatlin as soon as possible.
Families can talk about...
Families can talk about the magical hierarchy created in this book. The "Casters" seem to include witches, demons, incubi, fallen angels ... are they all opposed to mortals? Is there a theme of good against evil? Are all mortals portrayed as good? Are all the Casters evil?
What about Amma? She reads Tarot cards and seems to believe in some type of magic, with her spells and charms. Would it be considered black magic?
The Civil War looms large in the town of Gatlin. Are they proud of their role in the Civil War? How is this mentality portrayed as acceptable?
What makes Ethan so special to Lena?
Book details
| Authors: | Kami Garcia, Margaret Stohl |
| Genre: | Fantasy |
| Topics: | Magic and fantasy |
| Book type: | Fiction |
| Publisher: | Little, Brown and Company |
| Publication date: | January 1, 2010 |
| Number of pages: | 563 |
| Publisher's recommended age(s): | 12 - 17 |
| Read aloud: | 13 |
| Read alone: | 13 |
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QUALITY
For tweens, if they're mature
I love this book. I'm toward the end of Beautiful Darkness. I highly recommend it to anyone who is pretty mature. In Beautiful Darkness I'd watch out for swearing and that Liv, Marian's new assistant and Keeper-in-Training, and Ethan end up sleeping together. Watch out for that. But other than that great book.
Let Macon Live On!
What other families should know
Too much swearing
Great role models
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QUALITY
Great but dont bother w/ the sequel
I really liked this book. I thought it was great up to the very end when it was ruined w/ a sequal. Trust me folk- dont bothreading it- (the sequal that is)
What other families should know
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QUALITY
Good for tweens and up
I really enjoyed this book. I love fantasy and it delivered. It does get violent toward the end, but the book sends the message that you shouldn't be afraid to be who you are.
What other families should know
Too much violence
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