This was a beautifully written, character driven novel. Antonina has gone to live with her cousin in order to make her debut. Her interest is caught by Hector, who ends up having ulterior motives in his attention towards her. Add in some family drama and telekinesis and it's a great story! The book is a bit slow - paced, but I didn't mind at all. The descriptions and character history were fantastic.

Thank you to NetGalley for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I did not want to rate this, it wouldn’t be fair as I did not finish the book. But my post wouldn’t be added without it! To be honest I thought it was going to be more of a fantasy and instead, it’s a historical romance with a bit of magic. I got bored because it’s not really my style and the characters irritated me from the beginnng.
If you like regency romance, Jane Austen and Georgette Heyer with some magic this book would be perfect for you! So give it a shot, many people loved it! Thank you netgalley for the proof.

Nina has telekinetic powers and she is 19 years old, ready to be married. It's just that no one wants a wife with such a freakish talent. She falls in love with Hector, a man with similar powers who is famous for his performances, but there is a catch. Hector is obsessively in love with Nina's cousin. Their telekinetic powers are the only magical thing in the story. It was different, but I feel it didn't add anything to the outcome. Also, the setting is made up, 19th century like world, so I felt that this might have been just a historical romance set in London perhaps.

This story is so much more than a love triangle. Author managed to represent young and naive love so well, and also did justice to older women's contempt toward fairy tale endings that are not realistic. Nina's character development and struggle felt so real and I felt genuine sympathy towards her. It was more difficult to warm up to Valerie, older cousin who is confident, cold and strict.

Beautiful Ones was a pleasant surprise! I got it through NetGalley and as soon as I picked it up, I was hooked. I was drawn to it because of the magical premise, but I got a love story, which was a good bargain. It good somewhat too dramatic at the end, but I was happy overall.

For a book that ended up being more romance than fantasy (something I was not expecting), I really enjoyed it. It was surprising that it was more of a 20th century romance read with just hints of fantasy elements, but there were some really strong characters that carried the story.

Nina and Hector were dynamic characters that I really enjoyed reading about, and I loved their slow-burning romance. Nina is an outcast in the city, in love with nature and wildlife, and she's struggling to understand the ways of society and what it means to be a 'lady.' Throw in the fact that she has telekinetic powers that are frowned upon, she struggles with connecting with people and finding a husband. Hector is a master of telekinetic performances, and he's amassed a fortune showcasing his skills. He's doing this all to win back his teenage sweetheart, Valerie, who is married to another rich man. He's hoping that he can win back her love and they can finally be together.

Valerie just so happens to be chaperone to Nina, her cousin through marriage. Valerie forces Nina to go to balls to meet people, and Nina meets Hector, someone she's admired for a long time due to his telekinetic prowess. She asks him to teach her more about her powers, and Hector in turn, gets to see more of Valerie and potentially win her back. You see where this is going, right?

While parts of the plot were obvious from the beginning, it still really worked, and it's credit to the characters. I wished there was more world-building and fantasy elements to the story. From a fantasy perspective, I was disappointed, but I also appreciate a good romance read, so it worked.

The romance is chaste and emotional, just how I like it. Over time, the characters developing feelings and emotional growth were wonderful to read about, and I devoured the story. Nina as a main character was refreshing and brilliant, as there's not many romance novels I've read that has a heroine quite like her. Hector is a little more of your run-of-the-mill male lead, but I still liked him and how he grew throughout the story.

Overall, this was a solid read because of the characters. I loved Moreno-Garcia's storytelling, and I will definitely be picking up more of her books in the future.

*I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for my honest review. Special thanks to the publisher and author for providing me with a copy!*

I realized that after I requested this that I probably was not going to read it. I regret requesting it cause it did sound interesting when I read the summary.

The world-building is a tad peculiar in this alt-universe romance with a late-Victorian, fin-de-siecle feel: we've got countries we've never heard of, but our main setting is Loisal, in which everyone has French names. The Beautiful Ones are the beau monde of course, into which Antonina Beaulieu is being launched, largely against her will, as she is a country girl and has trouble fitting into the social scene.

Her situation is not helped by her cousin's wife Violette, ostensibly launching her, who is the most beautiful woman in town, but harbors a secret bitterness as her family forced her to marry for money. She gave up the love of her life, who shows up again, determined to see her--to have her. A telekinetic performer, Hector Aubrey is now very wealthy, and is able to get along in society though his birth is both foreign and low. He is obsessed with Violette, and begins courting Antonina to get close to her.

Antonina is attracted to him, and she exhibits the same talent, though it is frowned on in good society, so things get complicated.

The telekinetic thing was awkwardly fitted in, as it seems the only talent around, and these two the only ones with it. (view spoiler)

That and the unexplained French seem sort of shoehorned in, but I think those elements are more than made up for by the complexity of the characterization. Here the book really shines. Moreno-Garcia takes her time in introducing the characters, fleshing everyone out with a variety of motivations and actions. When one turns dark, we see the progression to the decision point, and it all makes compelling emotional sense.

The story thus starts slowly, but anyone who enjoys tales set in high society, with all the dangers of complicated manners, will be enthralled. I sure was. I enjoyed it from the beginning, but about a third of the way in I couldn't put it down until I hit the last, immensely satisfying page.

Take the Belle Époque and then mix in some romance, a fair amount of scheming and a touch of telekinesis. The result is The Beautiful Ones by Silvia Moreno-Garcia. This book is a tale of a girl who dreams of romance, a man who longs to find his love of years gone by and a woman who sacrificed her own happiness for her family’s fortune. This novel is told mostly over the period of two grand seasons, where everyone is in the city, going to balls and courting. Only this time, there is the added bonus of ‘talents’: people with telekinetic gifts who are looked down upon by those without.

I will admit, this book was not entirely what I was expecting based on the blurb I read. I was expecting the telekinesis to be a much larger part of the book than it was and indeed, in some parts I forgot it was actually a feature of the novel. Instead, The Beautiful Ones focused primarily on the relationships between the three main characters, and their own personal development as the story went on. Even though this was not quite what I was expecting, I think the novel was probably better for it.

When I first started reading this book, I made the mistake of reading it on the bus to work. The introduction of the characters and their actions during the first part of the novel had me smiling and chuckling to myself as I read (cue the weird looks from fellow commuters). Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s treatment of the characters is beautiful, particularly in the first half. Each one is fully layered, with their own plans and designs, that you never know quite who to you want to come out on top. Personally, Nina was my favourite – her naïve vulnerability, rebellious nature and hidden strength were rather endearing, particularly as she found herself caught up in the schemes of Hector and Valerie. Unfortunately, the second half did lose a little of the character complexity as it started to focus more on the romance and plot, but it was still entertaining and heart-warming (if a little frustrating in places) to read.

Overall, I would recommend this book if you’re in the mood for a more modern Jane Austen with a little bit of telekinesis added in for good measure. While I don’t tend to enjoy romances, the book is a delight to read. The characters are a clear strength, especially when they are at their most deceptive, but the story and prose were equally as enrapturing.

Enchanting and lyrical, this book slowly crept its way into my radar and captured my attention. I’m always happy to sit down with a historical romance novel, but this one is definitely in a different vein, in that Silvia Moreno-Garcia seems to write versatile tales and I would classify this as a historical romance novel but with a fantastical touch. Both the protagonists share telekinetic abilities, and it is seen as a part of the world, which explains the fantasy aspect, although it is still firmly a historical fiction novel in the setting and premise.

From the start, Nina is a delightful heroine who immediately captured my heart with her pure heart and the lack of artifice. A bit of a wallflower, she is stifled by the proper behavior and conventions she should follow, as dictated by her aunt Valerie, seeing as she grew up freely in a more rural setting. It would be difficult not to like her, and I loved her charming nature, from her beetle collection to the vivid curiosity she has for everything.

She could not wash this so easily, and the memory remained in the dawn; it stained her heart, like the sap of trees, which clings to clothes, to skin, to everything.</i>

Hector, the hero, is a passionate and intense man, and a bit of a hopeless romantic. He struggles with the dissonance between his idealism and the reality he lives in and could be a bit frustrating to read at times but slowly grew on me, especially as his emotions begin to grow in a certain~ direction. Certain moments in the narrative made me swoon and I loved how his character contrasts with both Nina and with Valerie.

I was enamored of an illusion for years on end, living on memories half-remembered and half fabricated.

Valerie is a well-thought out antagonist and there is something fascinating about her cold and ambitious nature. I spent the entirety of the book disliking her, to be quite honest, but I appreciated how well-written she was and she felt just as dynamic and forceful as I would expect her to be throughout the novel. She is human and the moments of vulnerability that Moreno-Garcia writes were compelling in the face of her more overtly despicable personality traits.

The romance itself is slow burn, where at times I felt utterly frustrated at the progression but in the end was so worth it because it was so satisfying. It’s hard to describe it without spoiling the plot, but there was so much heartbreak and angst weaved throughout the book, as the premise sets you up to experience. I advise not reading this book without a comforting coping mechanism or a busy day, I was desperate to finish the story so that I wouldn’t feel a gnawing worry for the characters, especially Nina.

He pressed his face against her neck, his hands racing down her body, and he felt himself caught on the edge of something, as he had not been in a painfully long time.

Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s writing is gorgeous and the attention and care to detail elevated the reading experience, where every emotion felt rich and beautiful. While The Beautiful Ones was my first book that I’ve encountered by Moreno-Garcia, it will surely not be my last.

Thank you to St. Martins Press for the review copy.

From glittering ballrooms to decaying family estates, Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s THE BEAUTIFUL ONES showcases the grandeur of society inspired by the Belle Époque…and the grit that’s carefully concealed beneath it.

When young Antonina Beaulieu comes out in society, she’s thrust from the socially relaxed country town where she grew up and into the blinding lights of Loisail. Guided by her aunt, the coldly perfect Valérie Beaulieu, Antonina struggles to conform to the social niceties required to make a good impression; her clumsiness, brazen attitude, and completely disregard for etiquette quickly mark her as a borderline unmarriageable miss. Add in her unsettling tendency to move things telekentically when she’s upset, and Nina has her fair share of hurdles to overcome before she can make a match of it. Until the mysterious, accomplished telekenetic performer Hector Auvray knocks on the door of her Aunt’s home…

Nina is quickly captivated by Hector`s attention, his plain-speaking, and his good looks. But Hector is pursuing Nina for all the wrong reasons, and it`s not long before that comes to light. Moreno-Garcia captures perfectly Nina`s feelings of betrayal, anger, and shame in the wake of her heartbreak, and I really appreciated the time she gave Nina to mourn the loss of Hector`s courtship and accept the reality of her circumstances. THE BEAUTIFUL ONES is a romance, so it`s not exactly surprising how the triangle between Nina, Hector, and Valérie ultimately plays out, but I really appreciated the care that Moreno-Garcia took in getting there.

THE BEAUTIFUL ONES stands apart from other fantasy of manners and romance novels thanks to Moreno-Garcia’s writing style, a lyrical yet precise way with words that’s typically reserved for “literary fiction.” A genre chameleon, Moreno-Garcia proves that she has the talent to pull off any kind of story with a style that’s uniquely her own. Some fans of CERTAIN DARK THINGS may not find what they’re looking for (namely, thrills and chills) in THE BEAUTIFUL ONES, but personally I loved reading Moreno-Garcia’s description of an entirely different world.

More than anything though, I found myself captivated by the characters and their multidimensional personalities. Nina, with her fresh optimism, kindness, and unbearable naivete; Hector, with his genuine heartbreak and fondness for Nina coupled with his scheming, manipulative behaviour; and Valérie, with her wild heart trapped by the conventions of the upper-class lifestyle she desperately clings to. Not all of the characters in THE BEAUTIFUL ONES are likable, but they’re all convincing and well-drawn. Valérie, in particular, impressed me — she’s selfish, cruel, and conniving, but her motivations are understandable and convincing. Moreno-Garcia makes it clear that Valérie wasn’t born this way: she’s been hardened by the sacrifices she’s made to conform to the expectations of a patriarchal society and the strict boundaries of class.

While I enjoyed the sprinkling of magic in THE BEAUTIFUL ONES, I admit that I craved more detail about the telekinetic powers that Nina and Hector both possess. We hear a lot about Hector`s unrivaled skill with his abilities, and although he does perform a few times on page, I confess that I wanted to know the true extent of his abilities. I’m sure he’s capable of much more than what he displays in his acts. That said, I was quite pleased with the way Nina`s developing control over her own gift plays into the climax of the story. Pretty badass!

THE BEAUTIFUL ONES is at once charming and thought-provoking, full of style, wit, and social commentary. With her trademark skill and style, Silvia Moreno-Garcia proves that she has staying power in any genre she chooses.

Stevie‘s review of The Beautiful Ones by Silvia Moreno Garcia
Historical Romantic Fantasy published by Thomas Dunne Books 24 Oct 17

I’m a great fan of stories set in fantasy worlds that are similar enough to our own to be recognisable, but are far more than just a place and a historical era with some magic thrown in. When the concept works, it’s a grand feat of world-building, in which we are able to believe that both author and characters are fully familiar with all the events taking place and the background against which the story has been built. One such world is that of Hector, Nina and Valerie, in which old estates struggle to compete with new wealth, and new technologies similar to those of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries are contrasted by the telekinetic powers of a few talented individuals.

Hector is one of those with such gifts. Born to humble beginnings, he has made his fame and fortune as an entertainer and has now returned to the city where once he fell in love with a young aristocratic woman, who promised to wait for him but then married a boy from a wealthy family in order to safeguard her own family’s estates for the future.

Valerie does not regret giving Hector up in favour of the lifestyle and riches she craved growing up, even though she is far from satisfied with her husband. Charged with introducing her troublesome niece into Society, she is dismayed when the girl makes a point of introducing herself to Hector and inviting him to the house where she is staying.

Nina has telekinetic powers to match Hector’s, but has never been trained in their control or use, since such gifts are frowned upon by polite society, even as its members enjoy going to shows such as those starring the famous Hector. A young lady who doesn’t hide any powers she might have risks missing out on making a good match, but Nina is awed by Hector and soon falls in love with him. Hector, meanwhile, plots to renew his affair with Valerie through encouraging Nina’s friendship. And in the background, the rakish younger brother of one of Hector’s well-off friends plots to steal Nina for himself, provided she keeps her telekinesis secret after their marriage.

This was a wonderfully rich book, although it took me a while to be properly swept up by it. The characters and settings were alien enough to make Hector and Nina’s powers believable, while also familiar enough for the plots around manners and societal norms to be easily followed. Hector is something of an arse at times, and Nina can be rather immature, so a long-term happy ending may not be easy for them to achieve. I’m very keen to read more by this new-to-me author.

Grade: B

This was a beautifully written story. While the description raised my expectations for more of a story of their telekinesis abilities, it serves more as a plot device. (And I confess, as a HUGE fan of magical realism, I kept waiting for this element to play a larger role in the story).

However, this is less a story around their abilities and more a character study. As such, its pace is languid, the descriptions lush and the personalities of the characters so well drawn that I found myself having visceral reactions to them. Nina was innocent and almost annoyingly naive, Valerie hard and bitter, with a nasty edge, and Hector? Well, I was fascinated by him, disdained him a bit, and then had a change of heart. What can I say?.

I really enjoyed this story. The story line kept my interest. I do believe that this book will make a great addition to anybodies library collection.

So this book started off slow for me but it did eventually get interesting. I would read more books by this author.

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Erica – ☆☆☆☆☆
Silvia Moreno-Garcia is a new-to-me author, and I look forward to reading more by her in the future. I wasn't sure what to expect from The Beautiful Ones. Reading the blurb, it had a young adult fantasy/dystopian vibe, so I was surprised yet delighted to discover it was actually a historical romance, with a very – and I mean very – slight paranormal element of telekinesis. While it does add another dimension to the overall story, it's riding just below the surface, with the romance front and center.

Nina is from a huge family, her father gone, and her cousin taking the active role as her guardian. She's nineteen, on the cusp of being twenty, and about to attend her first season. Her doting cousin's wife is her chaperone of sorts, offering advice and whatnot.

Nina isn't into the balls, parties, and fancy gowns. She enjoys entomology and likes to flex her talent. She's a societal outcast, bullied and scorned for using her telekinesis. But she is also seen as being no great beauty, because in this era that is the only value/worth a woman has.

Hector is a broken man, with no family, and only a singular friend. A telekinetic, he's a performer in a theater – he enjoys his job and little else out of life. He's been hanging onto the 'fantasy' of a lost love, mind spinning it into more than it was at the time, and it's stunted his growth in life and removed the possibility of happiness from his vocabulary.

I don't wish to spoil the angst-riddled story, so I won't get overly detailed on plot points. The Beautiful Ones takes place in an era where manipulation is easy because only appearances matter. Words are twisted, people are easily brainwashed or blackmailed. If there was a moral to the story, I'd say it was to be courageous and go after what will make you happy, not what is expected of you.

There is a character in the book, and usually I'm not a violent reader (snorts). This character left me wringing my Kindle as if it were a neck, out of pure frustration. I don't believe this person was inherently evil, but a product of society. Vapid, having most of the darker emotions associated with the human condition, this person's 'got what's coming to them' made me feel sad in a way. It was the juxtaposition of being a coward and thinking yourself powerful, while thinking others who are brave are weak. This character is a moral unto itself.

Nina and Hector take the reader on a head-spinning angsty journey. Nina isn't a damsel in distress. She does make some rock-meets-hard-place choices, but given her age and the era, she didn't have much of a choice in the matter at the time. So I will definitely say Nina is not the vapid, simpering, weak, flighty heroines one generally finds in Historical Romance. As long as the author writes a strong heroine, I'll suck up every word of the book.

There were times I didn't like Hector, but his mind was altered, similar to an addict's, and it took the course of the novel for Hector to deprogram himself and start the healing process. Near the end of the novel, I was rooting for Hector.

I read The Beautiful Ones in a single sitting, having been hooked from the start. I will admit the pacing is rather slow, and the will-they-won't-they did become rather tedious, but the depth of the characterization kept me engaged from start to finish.

This is less of a book about telekinetic powers and lore of a historical soap opera. Probably 95% of the book had nothing to do with people having powers, and that plot point could’ve been left out entirely and nothing would’ve changed much.
I’m focusing on the telekinesis because that’s what drew me to this book. I’m disappointed it wasn’t more present.
All in all, this is one of the better historical fictions I’ve read lately. I’m not really a fan of the genre most of the time.

Nina Beaulieu is not like other girls of her station - she prefers insects and practicing her telekinetic abilities to embroidery and dancing. She has been sent to the city under the supervision of her cousin Valerie to participate in the Grand Season and become more ladylike. Soon after arriving a handsome performer named Hector Auvray catches her eye and begins courting her. However, the courtship may not be what it seems...

The Beautiful Ones is a story of love and the drama that is ever present when money and privilege are involved. Though fairly predictable, the novel is enjoyable due to likable characters and an interesting setting. Fans of social drama among the rich and powerful will like this book.

THE BEAUTIFUL ONES is a sweeping historical romance with a dash of paranormal added in that feels almost incidental. Typically for this blog we review books that are a bit heavier on the paranormal/magic or even science fiction. While I enjoyed the plot (albeit a tad slow), the writing, and characters; I was left wondering what the real point of having characters with telekinesis in the story was. That factor lessened my full enjoyment as I kept thinking "So what?" in regards to the paranormal aspect since it had only a tangential meaning to the story.

I liked the relationship building between Nina and Hector and they get to know each other through their shared abilities though again, that could have easily been written out or replaced with something else and the story would stay much the same. They each have an immediate attraction and admiration for their individual quirks which I loved, especially Nina's insect obsession. I also enjoyed the time jump as it takes away the idea of insta-love, allowing the characters to grown and mature and think about their feelings for each other. There is a love triangle that was actually a pretty complex one involving a past love and sabotage. I liked how it wasn't a typical love triangle and there was a certain depth to it beyond "two women like the same man: drama ensues".

THE BEAUTIFUL ONES is a very beautifully written historical romance about lost loves, heartbreak, and second chances. The paranormal aspect was mostly a plot device to get the characters to meet which is typically fine but perhaps that part could have been down played in the plot summary to not make people expect a certain genre and get another.

This story wasn’t what I expected. I thought it would be a paranormal, fantasy young adult type read. Instead, the paranormal magical aspect was just kind of background filler.

Beautiful Ones by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
Level of Romance: High

(Amazon | B&N | Kobo)

Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s Beautiful Ones is a magical Regency-style romance. She meets him at a ball. Antonina Beaulieu is experiencing her first Grand Season in the city of Loisail when one of the worst dancers of her acquaintance begins to make his way toward her. She hides in the library and finds herself in company with the handsome and mysterious Hector Auray. The two share some conversation and a dance but part ways before the evening is over. Then Hector visits her the following day. Antonia quickly falls in love. Hector is the one person with whom she can be herself; he too has a powerful telekinetic gift and he actually helps her train so she can control her powers. But Hector has a dark secret and it may just destroy any chance they have at happiness.

She wanted to extend her hand and touch his face, to ask him what made him sorrowful, and then to kiss his mouth, to lavish caresses upon him. She did not dare, not yet, but she knew well that that the quivering feeling inside her could not be contained any longer.

Filled with gothic overtones and lush, vivid characters this is a story that captures the heart and imagination.

Antonina Beaulieu is more used to country living and studying beetles, but when she comes to the city of Loisail for her first Grand Season, that changes. Under the guidance of Valérie Beaulieu, her beautiful and cold aunt, Nina sets out to find a husband. She’ll just have to keep her tendency to say what she thinks and her telekinetic powers under wraps if she wants to keep the gossip at bay.

Then Nina meets Hector Auvray, a telekinetic performer who sees her powers as a gift. As Hector helps Nina develop her talents, she falls in love with him. But Hector is keeping a dark secret that could tear Nina’s world apart.

The Beautiful Ones is both magical and beautiful, with a Jane Austen-like feel for its also being a comedy of manners. Nina is a brave girl who stumbles as she enters a new world she doesn’t understand. Nina’s propensity to speak her mind and act without thinking gives her trouble at the hands of the elite of society, but her love for Hector gives her hope.

Hector is battling demons from his past, and his good intentions are often derailed at the hands of long-held dreams. The battles he faces are as hard as those of Nina, and the darkness threatens to overtake them both. I loved this book! Very different, with hints of steampunk twisted with a classical literary feel.

(Galley courtesy of St. Martin’s Press/Thomas Dunne Books via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.)