I went into this hoping I'd love it but I just didn't love this. The writing and characters were done beautifully and I liked them aspects of it but the story was just too slow and non-existing for me. I wanted there to be something more with the story but it just wasn't there. This is the 2nd time I've tried Moreno-Garcia and I just don't think I gel with her books overall.

I've only read the horror novel by the author, Mexican Gothic, and this one slightly different from that but only in the very best way. Lovers of historical or high society romances will appreciate the aspect of scandal and young women debuting in society. But there are also fantasy elements, almost urban fantasy in how the heroines powers are set in the society she is in. The twists, suspense and betrayals are not exactly unpredictable but don't seem boring either and the plot will keep you engaged.

Book - The beautiful ones

Author - Silvia Moreno Garcia

Suggested reading age according to me- 13-16.

My review- The author has this certain way of keeping us continuously engaged with her words but as a reader i also faced problems in my reading journey with the beautiful ones.
The character introduction was slow, in part 1 which part of the name is of which character is written in a very confusing manner which led to further difficulty in understanding the story but as we came towards the end of chapter 1, few things do became clear like who's heart broke, who's the relative of who but i must warn you that it all gets cleared in the later stage of part 1.

Now as we began part 2 of the book, we do get an idea that Nina is headed towards her independent journey with lots of books and philosophical gentlemen involved. But again, my sole motivation to turn to the next page is to see that does Nina get her true love? I am definitely a big fan of silvias work, i absolutely loved Mexican Gothic but I'm sorry to say that The beautiful ones did not match any of my expectations at all and there are pacing issues in the plot.
But yes, the author definitely managed to make us support and root for Nina's journey. The book overall is just not something unique it just feels very common and already heard before, I felt I had completely wasted my time reading this book. The ending predictable, I'm not going to tell you anything about it, it's just how every love story ends. Sometimes I could see the author trying to add interesting things in book but overall the entire reading experience just felt like an overused trope with bad writing. I do NOT recommend this book at all.

I would like to thank the publisher for sending me a copy of this book for reading and reviewing.

Silvia Moreno-Garcia is a powerhouse of genre fiction. She's already proved she can do fantasy, horror, and thriller amongst others. Now, in The Beautiful Ones, released for the first time in the UK, she has proved she can do historical fiction and romance to boot.

Think Austen, with a dash of Roald Dahl's Matilda and you have The Beautiful Ones. Nina is a young woman, coming of age in a regency-esque society where beauty and reputation mean everything. She comes from money, but needs to marry into status to join the ranks of The Beautiful Ones. The biggest problem - Nina is known as the 'witch of oldhouse' for her chaotic telekinetic abilities.

But when Hector Auvray, a famous telekinetic performer stumbles upon the young debutant, Nina's prospects and her life change. However, Hector hides a secret. This novel is full of love triangles, nefarious plots, scandal and intrigue enough to give Julia Quinn a run for her money. Moreno-Garcia is an expert at world-building and evokes such a brilliant regency-inspired setting which immerses the reader. She also excels at compelling plots which have you eager to turn the next page.

Like Casiopea in Gods of Jade and Shadow and Noemí in Mexican Gothic, Nina is a strong heroine, but Moreno-Garcia doesn't cut all her heroines from the same mold. Nina might be independent and headstrong, but she learns quickly from her mistakes, setting emotional boundaries. She also has an interest in science - eschewing jewellery in favour of insect specimens and books on the psychic. Watching her grow and navigate relationships makes the perfect coming of age story.

This book will fill the Bridgerton shaped hole in your life. And you don't have to be regency obsessed to love this story, it's perfect for fans of fantasy and historical fiction too. The Beautiful Ones will be one of the best books that you pick up this year.

A love story set in a 19th century high society would hold an expectation of historical stereotypes, but this magic woven atmospheric tale rises above it all while following two beings with supernatural powers. Nina doesn't fit into what the community demands of her and while they may call her a witch over the gossips going around about the magic she might be possessing, she actually isn't one. She's telekinetic, though. Hector is a performer who also holds the same fantastical ability, using which he can move things with his mind. There's no doubt they are drawn to each other. Moreno-Garcia's excellent writing continues to deliver in this story that gracefully balances the speculative bits and romantic sequences. The theme of class privileges and wealth's influence on power is rightly commented on in addition to the conformity expected of women, especially when it comes to finding a husband. Dramatic and entertaining, Nina is successful in leaving a mark on the readers as a young woman who pushes against boundaries and doesn't compromise with her happiness, while also being passionate about love, talent, and freedom.

I mean just how stunning is the cover, simply blows you away.

The story is told in alternating characters/chapters from 3 different perspectives. I really liked this as the character development blossomed and I got to know each one well. There is so much complexity and conflict in the story you just get immersed into it.
It is character driven rather than plot driven which I don't mind at all.

It was poetic and atmospheric to read.

I really enjoyed this book, especially the setting. It felt so tangible, I loved it! I loved the mix of fantasy within this setting, it has made me desperate to read more Silvia Moreno-Garcia. I have previously struggled with the Gods of Jade and Shadow but really liked this one.

I am an absolute huge Silvia Moreno-Garcia fan, ever since I read Gods of Jade and Shadow and Mexican Gothic. And whilst I adore her writing, this was not my absolute favourite of her books that I read.

The Beautiful Ones is a character-driven novel that is incredibly slow-burn and slowly built, which is an aspect that I actually enjoyed. Nina was such a great character, I loved her boldness, her questioning of the norms of society - I just really adored her character! The way Moreno-Garcia writes characters is just so great, and Nina, Hector and Valerie are not exceptions. Oh, was Valerie a character you love to hate!

Although there is angst, pining, heartbreak and drama, creating a compelling novel with characters that keep you engaged, I just didn't thoroughly love it. Love triangles are not something I particularly gravitate towards, I find the 'drama that comes from that trite in most novels. And in this one, I didn't really care enough about the love triangle to be caught up in the drama of it all. Sometimes, it felt repetitive? I just wished I loved it more than I actually did, as I really adored Nina's character.

*I received an ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thanks for the free book!*

I love "Mexican Gothic" and was very excited to dive in one of Moreno-Garcia's earlier works. This is a slow burning love story, reminding me a bit of "Jane Austen" but with more female agency, a setting that is not boringly European. It's a romance and a novel of manners and as that quite dramatic and partly ridiculous (BUT FUN!). It's the story of Hector, magician, who pursues his former love Valérie, but needs to pretend to court her relative, Nina, who is very much different from what is expected of her as a young woman of wealth, but is smart, interested in science and magically gifted as well. You can imagine where this goes... So if you like drama, read this book!

4 stars

"The Beautiful Ones" just didn't really work for me. The magical element played such a small role it could just as well have been left out which was a great disappointment to me because it was what I looked forward to the most.
The characters felt rather one-note and the romantic relationships didn't really work for me either.

Delightful and beautiful read. Silvia Moreno-Garcia has a way with words that makes me want to read all the books that are written. This was no exception and I absolutely enjoyed the fantasy element of the book along with the brilliant characters.

I honestly didn’t know what to expect going into this. I adored Mexican Gothic and Garcia’s writing style that I knew I’d possibly enjoy this one too. However not being a heavy romance fan I was skeptical, but I really enjoyed this!
It is I would say a story focusing on a romantic love triangle. Usually the trope I dislike a lot in books. I did expect a bit more magic to be present but I honestly didn’t mind at all because I was so invested in the characters and their relationships.
Nina is a rebellious and charming character who you can’t help fall in love with. Her trying to battle being a lady and find a husband, with also wanting to use her magic without judgment and have interests that aren’t technically fit for a lady was the best part for me.
Valerie is one of the best antagonists and I truly despised her character. Hector although I didn’t like him at the start, grew so much as a character that I loved him in the end! That’s what was great about this book though. It had real and relatable characters. They were flawed and made bad decisions that they then had to reflect on and grow from.
I loved the historical setting and atmosphere.
I really became invested in the characters and what would happen to them by the end.
Another beautifully written and amazing character work.
I think Silvia Moreno Garcia is quickly becoming a new favourite author and I can’t wait to read more from them!!

Silvia Moreno Garcia is one of those people gifted with words and it's a real pleasure to read from. I love the folklore put in the stories without it feeling forced. It just has a really nice flow.

Silvia Moreno-Garcia's writing is objectively beautiful, but while I loved Mexican Gothic, I don't think all of her books will be for me. This one definitely wasn't and I unfortunately had to DNF it. I kept waiting for something to actually happen or for something to get interested or invested in, but it just didn't happen, and the book couldn't hold my attention.

Silvia Moreno-Garcia's writing is truly one of a kind. It certainly was the strongest point of this book.

In all honesty, I did not care much for the actual plot, it wasn't to my taste, but I love the way the story was told. I'm sure other people would love this story, though.

I'll definitely be reading more of her books in the future!

I adored this so much. I think this is this first book I’ve read by the author but I’ll definitely be going to read more now. This is a fantasy romance, and I loved how much it went into their feelings and emotions so much. There are three POVs, they are all done really well,it reads like a regency but it isn’t clear on the time it’s set. I just thoroughly enjoyed this and recommend this to fans of historical romances, the fantasy elements seemed very light in this.

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion

Silvia Moreno-Garcia is one of my favourite authors and I love that het older works are being reprinted now her more recent books are such a succes.

This one is not one of my favourites, but I still love her writing style and her charaters. She has such a talent of crafting her characters and the atmosphere. Even when the subject this time didn't really do anything for me, I really like her writing style.

Looking forward to read her other work I haven't read yet.

Overall I did enjoy this book, it was a good, solid, period romance with a sprinkling of magical realism. However, I just don't think the author's writing style is for me.

For SM-G fans I think this will be a hit, but for me, not so much.

They say third time is the charm. I disagree. This was my third book by Silvia Moreno-Garcia and I still don't really gel with her writing style.

I couldn't connect to the female MC, she was too naive for me. And I still can't believe she never tried her telekinesis when she was a child, who wouldn't do that?

What a beautiful story of love, loss and finding your way back to it. Combined with a bit of the supernatural. This mix makes Moreno-Garcia stories so special and unique. Thank you for this eARC.