Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this advanced readers copy. All opinions are honest and my own.

gorgeous cover, but ultimately not for me.

Sorry for the long delay in feedback. I'm working on clearing out my Netgalley backlog. I am DNF'ing all books that just don't work within the first 50-100 pages. Trying to find the joy in reading again by going through the hundreds of abandoned books here.

I wasn't sure what to expect from this book because Silvia Moreno-Garcia is such a versatile writer! This really did feel like a pretty conventional Regency-romance-with-magic story, like Sorcery & Cecelia or Shades of Milk and Honey. It was extremely enjoyable, especially since unlike the Heyer book that it has the most shades of (A Civil Contract, by far the most dissatisfying of all her romances), our hero realizes the error of his ways and grows to appreciate the kindness of the woman who loves him rather than staying obsessed with his first love. I was a little surprised that the magical elements didn't play a larger role in the story, but it was a fun (and fast) read!

This was a delightful romance of manners and misunderstandings, with protagonists who just happen to be telekenetics! I loved the evocative descriptions of the costumes and the houses and thought that the prose in general was gorgeous. Nina is a fabulous main character, towing the line gracefully between shrinking violet and modern woman and I was rooting for her throughout. Similarly, Valerie makes for a wonderful antagonist, as her motivations are understandable, albeit, unpleasant. Overall, this was a really enjoyable read and I would definitely recommend it to anyone with a love for regency romance.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.

The Beautiful Ones by Silvia Moreno Garcia

299 Pages
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press, Thomas Dunne Books
Release Date: October 24, 2017

Fiction, Historic, Romance, Sci Fi, Fantasy, Magic

Hector has a talent. He can move things with his mind. At a party he meets a young woman, Nina. Once he finds out she is related to his lost love, Valerie, everything changes. Hector decides the best way to get back at Valerie is to court and marry Nina.

The book has a steady pace, developed characters and is written in the third person point of view. I enjoyed reading Nina’s character. She is unconventional and bold. Hector is a flawed man who has spent the past ten years grieving for a lost love. Valerie is vindictive and shallow. If you enjoy historical fantasy books, you will enjoy reading this one.

ull disclosure: I was given an advance copy in return for an honest review. And I can honestly say this is one of the most enjoyable books I have read recently!

The Beautiful Ones blazes its own path in a number of ways. Most historical fantasies are set in some version of Victorian or Edwardian England, it seems, but Ms. Moreno-Garcia takes her inspiration from France of the same period. This gives us a world to explore that is familiar enough to be engaging and different enough to be intriguing. Layered upon a Jane Austen-like novel of manners is a shimmering veil of fantasy where psychic talents are unusual, but not considered with more than a raised eyebrow.

The plot moves at a stately and unrushed pace, but I never found it boring. As we follow the main characters through their individual points of view, we glean what drives them, bit by bit, and sometimes we glimpse things about them before they do! Hector, a professional telekinetic and entertainer, crosses paths with Nina, an untutored young girl making her debut in society. Nina is hampered by her own psychic talent, deemed unseemly in a lady. She is being supervised by Valerie, her cousin’s wife, with whom, we quickly learn, Hector has a history. After a couple of emotional collisions with Valerie, Hector begins to court Nina and train her in the use of her talent, while still secretly aching for his lost love.

The pace picks up as the characters become entangled in the web of their various motivations, until we can see the horror of the climax rushing toward us like a steam locomotive. And yet, there is a glimmer of hope, for magic and love, that carries us through. The twists and turns of the final chapters left me thoroughly satisfied. I love the author’s use of language; it has a flow that picks you up and carries you along. It’s a terrific book, and I highly recommend it!

This almost felt like two books, and I liked part two more than part one! I really enjoyed most of the book, though, except how annoying Valerie was. Overall it was a good read with a satisfying ending.

Admittedly, I waited too long to read this — which was a mistake on my part. This book wasn’t anything like I was expecting — to be fair, I was expecting more magic and intrigue and regency and balls — but it was a really enjoyable read. I really came to like Nina, even though she was initially quite grating; Hector was an enjoyable if grumpy character, and seeing his transformation was nice; and, of course, Valerie was awful, from start to finish.

This is the second book by Silvia Moreno-Garcia that I have read (the other was Mexican Gothic), and it sure won’t be my last. Both books have completely different feels, and I enjoyed both.

I thoroughly enjoyed this author's take on a highly romanticized period by setting it in a slightly alternative world displaced of its usual artifacts - dreary London and the monarchy. I'd hoped for some LGBTQIA or BIPOC representation & it's lack within the story is the only thing keeping this from 5 stars in my esteem.

I liked this even more than Silvia Moreno Garcia’s other novels. Each tries something very different and this time it was manners and magic in a diverse, charming alt-history/fantasy world.

It worked so well for the style and nature of her writing. Slow, character-driven, rooted in an enjoyable if occasionally (intentionally) melodramatic romance. It’s lush and easy to envision and really quite a mix of Austen and Bronte. Moreno Garcia is such an electric talent to read; hard to predict and easy to enjoy.

This wasn’t the book for me. It wasn’t what I hoped. Not what I expected. I couldn’t give it a chance. It’s not something I would read.

I cannot pick out one thing in this book I didn’t like. I love the idea of a fantasy set in a historical setting and the author did a wonderful job following through on her idea. The characters were likable (and detestable) and I really cared about them like they were my friends.

The Beautiful Ones is an atmospheric, lushly-written romance with a tinge of magic. Hector was a sympathetic protagonist, an underdog who has clawed his way into money and relevance through hard work and willpower, and despite his dislike for high society, he is forced to play by their rules. Nina was the most relatable character to me, being awkward, nerdy, candid, and full of passion and idealism.

The love story between Hector and Valerie was tragic and proof that passion can't be everything for passion can easily morph into something darker. Valerie was not a completely unsympathetic antagonist. Her story read like a cautionary tale of what you might become if you let bitterness consume you to the point where seeking revenge and forcing other to hurt as you have is your only way of coping with heartbreak.

The romance between Nina and Hector took some time to grow into something compelling; though Hector liked Nina as a person fairly early on, the romantic feelings were very one-sided for a time, and with the age gap, Nina's feelings felt shallow and naive. However, the story allows her to mature and grow into herself and find herself on more equal footing with Hector. Nina made an excellent foil to Valerie and vice-versa, and I feel like the romance between Hector and Nina serves to reinforce the idea that Nina is what one should aspire to be like.

The telekinesis aspect was nicely woven into the story, expressing Nina's inner emotional state and affecting the dynamic between Nina and Hector. However, I wish it could have been explored more; the way the book was marketed made it seem like it would play a larger role than it did.

This is a soap opera and I wasn't in the mood for it. The characters felt like stock characters. There's the icy blond sophisticated beauty Valerie. There's her past love Hector, newly returned to town after having made his fortune only to find Valerie married to a wealthy and dull socially prominent man. And there's dark unconventionally beautiful naive Nina who has come from the countryside to be "finished" socially by Valerie and find a husband. You can see where this is going, can't you?

So could I. And it was slow. And although there are people who can use magic (which Nina and Hector have in common), magic doesn't seem to be used for anything more than parlor tricks and show- it doesn't change society in any way. So- I was bored by the slow pace, I was frustrated by the tease of having magic but having it not really mean anything, and I was not intrigued by the characters, who all acted exactly as you'd expect they would act. There was also a lot of explaining character traits instead of showing them, which slowed the pace even more. Sure, there's some pretty clothes (which I always like), and a ball, and clearly there will be several romances. It's Georgette Heyer only in a fantasy setting. I didn't want to wade through the book because it just didn't make me want to keep reading.

Matters of the Heart Are the Hardest to Categorize

Let’s start off by looking at that cover!! I was immediately drawn to the vibrant green with the beautiful scroll. I was very excited about this read and I was not disappointed. From the first page Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s writing is captivating. Romance and scandal all wonderfully woven together with just enough pull to keep the reader turning the pages.

The Story, Antonina is a wonderful young lady with an amazing heart. She lives in a world where ladies are to be a certain way and anything else results in scandal for the families. Reputation is key and the only thing that may be more important is how much money the family has. Nina(Antonina) does not have to worry about money but her telekinetic gift means people have looked down on her since childhood. No one except her family treats her with kindness because this gift is not something “ladies” should have. Nina has found Hector and he has the same gift hoping to make a new friend and know someone who can share understanding with her she quickly becomes enamored with him. Hector has other plans and they involve only Valerie.

The Characters, You know how I feel for Nina she is the wonderful light of this story. My heart went out to her I loved getting to know her and watch her become an incredible talent with an untarnished heart. Hector is confused and hurt and he makes so many mistakes. He has a certain sense of charm that keeps drawing the reader in. Uncertain of the outcome I kept cheering for Nina so all I wanted for her was happiness. Valerie, oh boy all I can say about her is she let a certain darkness overtake her she became cruel and evil. All the beauty on the outside did nothing for the withering rotting heart within. The secondary characters added a lot of zeal to the story that created a lot of depth.

The End, Nina faces a lot of strife and heartache but she overcomes it by developing into something greater than before. Something that has always been her foundation is her family and they do not disappoint. I am happy to report everyone gets what they deserve.

My Rating
4.0 I did not want to put this down, when I had to I kept thinking about picking it back up again and what would happen next. I recommend this for anyone that loves a crazy romance with drama and a wonderful ending.

I didn't start off immediately liking this book, but as I kept reading I began to fall slowly in love with it! Hector wasn't likable at first and Nina was so naive! But, there was something about the writing that made me fall for these poor babies! I hated Valerie so much!
By the end of the book, both Hector and Nina had evolved so much! And this character development was my most favorite aspect of the book! It had all elements of magic, romance and a little bit of suspense all mixed together perfectly!

I took a long time to read this book but I did love it. I love the way Silvia describe these characters and their powers. Its one of my few favorite magical books and I am so happy I bought a copy. Hopefully, I will reread again this Halloween

Book Review: The Beautiful Ones by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

The Beautiful Ones is scandalous, vicious and endearing. It's my kind of book. The story has a lot of drama, suspense & deep-rooted family secrets. As those secrets come to the surface, my interest grows. I really enjoy the elements of fantasy with telekinesis. If you're not a science fiction reader, do not be deterred.  The fantasy elements fit well into the story. For me, it really adds magic to the passionate love story.

THE VERDICT

I am Really Into This book! The Beautiful Ones is a story of deceit and drama. Despite all the ups and downs for the couple, you’re rooting for them. I give this one 4.5 stars & let's round to 5.Special thanks to Silvia Moreno-Garcia, St. Martin's Press & NetGalley for providing my copy in exchange for an honest & fair review.

The Beautiful Ones is entirely different beast than Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s last book, the narco-vampire thriller Certain Dark Things. The Beautiful Ones is a historical romance set in a world inspired by the Belle Epoque, and is a story of longing, love and loss, and what betrayal can do to drive a person to becoming fully who they are.


Antonina (Nina) arrives in Loisail for her first Grand Season, where she is to debut as a young socialite with a fortune in search of a suitable husband. Unlike the other girls of Loisail, Nina has been brought up in the country and isn’t as interested in the societal proprieties of the city as she should be, according to her far more socially elevated and beautiful cousin-in-law, with whom she is staying. Valerie was once the belle of each ball, and made a fortunate match with Nina’s well-off and well-connected cousin, and though their marriage may lack affection, Valerie plays the game high society requires of a woman of her position exceptionally well.


BUY IT NOW



Having given up a great deal to find a husband who could help raise her family’s socioeconomic stature, Valerie has very little patience with those who do not fall into place as required. She is brittle and cannot be anyone other than whom she had become to make her place in a society with very strict lines and dedicated pigeonholes for everyone, and though she may want “to weep for that proud girl who had broken her own heart and tossed it to the dogs, and she wanted to weep for the older woman who had been left behind with a gaping hole in her soul,” she knows that “if she could do it again… she’d still retrace her steps. She was not Antonia Beaulieu, who offered herself like a sacrificial lamb, who gave everything of herself to the world of the world to devour. She was Valerie Veries. She hated herself sometimes for it, but she was Valerie Veries.”

Nina is not just less concerned with all the things Valerie thinks a young girl should prioritise in her first Season—she is also telekinetic, something that isn’t unheard of in this world, but definitely not something a lady is expected to publicise or dare to flaunt in any way. Nina isn’t always in control of her powers, either, and has had some unfortunate events in the past when she’s lost control of them. She doesn’t know how to go about honing her skills, partly because it’s unheard of for a lady to even want to. She is, however, very interested in the telekinetic performer Hector Auvray, who, unbeknownst to her, has a secret shared history with Valerie.

Nina’s telekinetic powers are not at par with Hector’s in terms of control or panache, but she seems to have just as much power as he does, and she is eager and quick to learn how to use her abilities to perform the fantastic theatrical tricks that have been Hector’s livelihood, even though society considers women doing what men of the same abilities can do extremely vulgar. Hector, in return, does not think anything untoward about helping Nina learn more about how to use her telekinesis, and the two grow close, with Nina (and her family) assuming that Hector’s interest in her is more than just platonic. How their relationship plays out, and how it affects Valerie’s interest in Nina and her future, is what the narrative explores in an extremely readable, elegant period fantasy.

Admittedly, the fantasy elements in The Beautiful Ones are restricted to Hector and Nina’s telekinetic abilities, but the development of these in tandem to how the characters get to know each other are well played out as an aspect of their relationship. Hector is indeed the more experienced, albeit sober and controlled one. Nina, the younger, livelier one, “a half-formed being, a creature with no edges,” helps bring him a sense of adventure he hasn’t had for a long time, as he helps her gain control over her abilities.

The true strength of the novel of course lies in its characters and its depiction of an era when wealth and its correct show is all that matters. Valerie has made the brutal, unhappy choices she has made for money. Nina is wanted more for her inheritance than for her personality by some. Hector has pushed himself to be the famous performer he is so he could attain a certain economic stature and only now can choose to do what his heart wants instead of what society dictates. As Hector’s friend Etienne points out, “Nothing matters more than money to [this society], the proper people who walk down these city streets in pristine gloves and silk-lined garments. You can give yourself the luxury of love because you are not one of us. That is why you are my friend: because despite everything, at heart you remain an innocent.”

Whether Hector is an innocent or not is debatable. Many of Moreno-Garcia’s characters do terrible, despicable things to hurt each other and profit personally in this book, but that’s what keeps them and the narrative interesting. It’s a slow-burn, stately novel about the magic of what it means to love, and love truly.

Once I got into this book I greatly enjoyed it! It was fun to see how the relationship grew and changed. I was expecting more of the fantastical aspect since they started the book with a bit of a hint at telekinesis.