I was intrigued by this novel as soon as I saw the cover, and because it mixes together some of my favourite genres: historical fiction, gothic romance and fantasy elements. Though I thought the main character, Nina, was both likeable and multi-dimensional, I didn't take to the other characters in the same way and felt that at many points the plotline dragged quite slowly. However, I appreciated Moreno-Garcia's flowing writing style and have yet to dig deeper into South American fiction, so i'll definitely be checking out the author's previous novels at some point.

trigger warning
<spoiler> gaslighting, gun violence, suicidal ideation </spoiler>

As Hector Auvray comes to the city and joins in on a ball, he hopes to meet a woman from his past, but instead meets Nina, who just had her debut and is supposed to find a husband.

Think Jane Austen, but with magic. Hector Auvray is a talent, a stage macigian whose tricks are <i>true</i> and offer a glimpse of his telekinetic powers. Magic is an accepted part of this world, but not something people of good standing do, similiar to most arts.
Hector is tolerated because he is immensely rich.

What happens boils down to a love triangle, but not the annoying version you meet in YA novels of a certain time, it's not a backdrop to the plot to add more drama, and it's not one girl having to decide between two guys she is leaving hanging.

There are sex scenes in this book, but they happen offscreen, so I didn't tag them.

The characters are not only three dimensional, it comes to the level of absurdity that feels very real. <spoiler> Nina has talents of her own, but since indulging in them is nothing a girl from a good family would do, she has no training and when she is upset, she loses control. Her maid hates her because Nina tends to misplace shoes, and the maid gets scolded for that.
The best thing would be to train her so she has the neccessary control, because untrained magicians or whatever you want to call them are a danger to themselves and to others, but everyone is told to shut up.
Nina is called the witch of Oldtown because of the few instances where she publically used her powers, which, in turn, means she won't find a suitable husband in the country where she's from. </spoiler>

The author simply delivers. This is her second novel I read, and while both are entirely different, I enjoyed the journey they took me upon. I have a third one, Velvet was the Night, here and can't wait to get to it!

The arc was provided by the publisher.

Absolutely adored the characters in this book. Set in the regency times, it had just the right amount of fantasy mingled in.
It was a light, easy read that felt like a breath of fresh air after reading thrillers and dark fantasy!

You will absolutely fall in love with these lovely cast of characters and the beautiful plot!

A re-release of this book with a beautiful new cover! Set in France with a magical twist! A lovely story of love and finding out who you are.

This is a gothic romance in regency period with a bit of fantasy elements included in it. It was an entertaining, easy read and I enjoyed it.
thanks a lot for this copy.

This stunning story is set in the regency era with a light fantasy twist. Henry and Nina have some telekinetic powers, but it is never the focus of the story.

Henry comes back to town in hopes of seeing his old flame, Valérie. Instead, he runs into Nina. Soon he finds out she is actually the cousin of his former lover and takes this opportunity to get close to Valérie again. Of course, drama and scandal ensues.

Nina has a lot of social faux pas, but it adds to her charm because she is just being unapologetically herself. Valérie is her beautiful cousin who is seen in high regard. I really felt for her after reading her past and what she had to sacrifice for her family but my goodness her actions escalated quite quickly!

Hector was an interesting character and I really did root for him and Nina. Some of his choices were questionable but he always redeemed himself.

If you enjoy a good regency romance with beautiful prose, then definitely pick this one up!

Thank you to Quercus Books and Netgalley for the arc!

The Beautiful Ones was a fantastic surprise and one of my favorite reads this year. It has beautiful writing, atmospheric settings, and all the tropes I love from a historical romance. All the elements also work well together and it’s just a perfect story to be fell in love with.

This was a cute read. One of those cute summer romances that will have you pull your heart out and then stitch it back together. It's cute and sweet, with characters adding a little bit of sting to the story.

Another great read by Silvia Moreno-Garcia, this love triangle with a magical realism twist has her typical low level creepy undertone, a glamorous setting (this time period drama-esque France), characters veering between vaguely and extremely unlikeable and complex familial relationships. This is a satisfying read as its slow burn allows for a deep dive into the main protagonists’ personalities and backgrounds, with a strong sense of place that makes this completely absorbing. Given that what I thought would be the ending happens less than half way through, I was intrigued to continue on and I’m glad I did as this was a slow but rewarding ending.

A slow burn historical love drama. Nina is gifted and her gift makes her an outcast. She leaves her home and stays with her cousin and his wife. She finds Hector who unlike others helps her with her gift. When she hopes she can have more, the past between Hector and her cousin's cunning wife takes upper hand.
A lot of social discrimination and inequality issues were neatly squeezed into the plot.
If you're reading this before reading Mexican Gothic, you'll probably like this book more. As I had read Mexican Gothic before, this did not feel great to me.

This is a slow paced fantasy romance, following the tangled love lives of the characters. Nina is young and new to the city, and ends up falling for Hector. Hector feel in love with Nina's cousin-by-marriage Valerie a long time ago, and wants to get close to her. It's certainly not a snappy story, more interested in digging into the characters' minds and emotions than moving along to any action. I don't read romances, so I'm not sure if that's a typical feature of the sub-genre.

There are three POVs, Nina, Hector, and Valerie, which lets you see their journeys and struggles, not to mention the romance from both sides. I really didn't like Valerie. I can't tell if I was meant to dislike her, or sympathise with her (given she was a POV.) But she was just so self-centred and cruel, willing to use and hurt anyone if it meant getting her own way (and playing with Hector after realising his affections were moving.) She was very much the villain in my view, and I did like seeing her villainous perspective as it added an urgency and threat to the book.

The setting is gorgeous though. It's a secondary world, full of money and glamour. I want to say inspired by the 1910s France/Europe, as that was the vibe I got from the names, the rules of courting, the clothes, and technology (motorcars being a new thing, for example.) Plus Nina likes beetles and butterflies, which was a really nice detail to set her apart. Not to mention the iridescent beauty of the shells helped evoke that lacquered, polished semi-precious stone vibe for the early twentieth century.

The magic is a really small part of the story, another thing that means Nina doesn't fit into the upper classes but finds an affinity with performer Hector. That and the secondary world are the reason it's a fantasy book, rather than a being shelved with romance.

The Beautiful Ones is a beautifully written story of intrigue, high society and romance, with a dash of magic thrown in. But while there isn’t anything wrong with the book itself, it failed to capture my heart and maintain tension throughout the story. In what seems to have become a pattern with Moreno-Garcia’s books for me, I love the openings, and then get distracted and bored as the story sputters on. I really struggle to put my finger on what exactly it is that makes me disconnect with her work so much as all of the books I’ve picked up are quite different in genre and have fantastic premises that tempt me into trying again – but then the issues I end up having are quite similar.

I think it might be something that comes down to characters. They are well-crafted, but they lack emotions – and the emotional connection is something that I find crucial to the enjoyment of a book for me. This is probably also partially down to the setting, as The Beautiful Ones, as all of the books by Moreno-Garcia I’ve read, are set in the early twentieth century, in a society that is rather stilted and stiff, and thus not as open and ready to show emotions. It really comes down to personal preference I think – in no way is The Beautiful Ones a bad book, just one that doesn’t work too well for me personally.

If you are a fan of Regency romances, of fantasy of manners books in general, this is a book for you. If you adored Bridgerton, check this out.

"Nothing matters more than money to us, the Beautiful Ones who walk down these 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."

The Beautiful Ones was released in 2017, but it is getting republished with a brand new (gorgeous!) cover this year. Like I am beginning to learn is common with all Silvia Moreno-Garcia books, this novel is difficult to categorise or even describe. All of her books are so different from one another, yet laced with the same breathtaking writing style and atmosphere.

“A sea roared inside her and made demands, but she waded it, she bobbed up, took a breath, and opened her eyes to the cold winter morning. Then she rose because the day was there, the world was there, and she wanted to be part of it.”

The best way I can pitch this book is Jane Austen x magic. In many ways it feels like a classic Austen novel, with the naive and inexperienced protagonist being thrust into the unfamiliar world of society's elite- secrets, backstabbing and forbidden romance.

"At nineteen Antonina was without all the skills a young lady making her entrance into society should possess. She could not sing, danced mediocrely, and displayed neither wit nor seductiveness."

This book is told from three different perspectives, which I had mixed feelings about. In some ways, I wish it was only told from Antonina's point of view to keep some things a secret from the reader. However, I also appreciated the changes in pace that the other narrators brought with them. Valerie in particular was an intriguing and layered character to read from.

"she was the kind of woman who started and ended trends, who made heads turn when she walked into a room, whose name dropped all over the society pages."

Something else that refreshed this story for me was the light sprinkling of magic. It was interesting, because it didn't take over the whole plot, but was definitely a prominent and unexpected element.

"ever since she was a girl, she'd made things move. She'd given the maids a bit of a fright at times- and couldn't control it well. but Nina tried to consider it all in a scientific light. The universe was unveiling new wonders every day, the motorcar and the photographic camera, to name but a handful of the inventions dazzling the world. She preferred to classify herself as one of these new wonders."

I would recommend this for people who like historical romance/drama, think Bridgerton. If you don't mind naive protagonists, love triangles or some instances of miscommunication- this book is for you! The writing style is incredible, characters loveable and plot engaging. Silvia Moreno-Garcia has such range in the genres she can write- and excel at. I can't wait to read Gods of Jade and Shadow particularly, and will definitely be keeping an eye out for what she releases next!

The Beautiful Ones is another wonderful read by Silvia Moreno- Garcia!
Some wonderful characters are woven throughout this incredible tale. Antonina, Hector and Valerie are such compelling characters, weaving a part romance story, part tragedy. I was captivated right through the ending, which I found to be immensely satisfying! This feels very informed by authors like Jane Austen and the Bronte sisters, all of whom I love. This is the Latinx tale of manners that I didn't know I needed! Some people will be put off by the slow pacing and character driven nature of the story, but if the authors I mentioned appeal to you I would highly recommend checking it out.

The Beautiful Ones by Silvia Moreno-Garcia is a fantasy story, set in a period setting, where The Beautiful Ones are those who are high society.  Nina is having her debut, and her cousin, and his wife, are the ones who are launching her.  But her cousin's wife is not interested in Nina so much as what her actions reflect on her.

Nina has the power of telekinesis, and when she meets the popular entertainer, Hector, who performs for audiences around the world, she's smitten. To be fair, she was smitten before she met him, when she only read about him.

But Hector sees her as a way of getting access to a woman he used to be involved with, and still loves.  The question is, how long can he string Nina along before she gets hurt?

I found this to be entertaining, and felt quite like a regency romance book, except the setting isn't precisely described in a timeline. It's an enjoyable book with light fantasy added in.

 The Beautiful Ones  was published on 27th April 2021, and is available to buy from  Amazon ,  Waterstones  and  Bookshop.org .

You can follow Silvia Moreno-Garcia on her  website  and  Twitter .

I was given this book in exchange for an unbiased review, and so my thanks to NetGalley and to  Quercus Books .

I found this to be an enjoyable read. I have always found the power of telekinesis fascinating, I also find it interesting when there are different levels of society and the manoeuvring that happens between them. The characters were likeable and overall it was an enjoyable experience.

Silvia Moreno-Garcia is solidifying herself as one of my favourite authors!
Her writing is evocative and captivating and her stories always keep me guessing.

Hector Auvrey returns to the city of Loisail after a decade showing his talents and earning his fortune. All to win the heart of the fair Valerie. Her cousin Nina is a naive debutant that may be caught in the crossfires.

I received a free copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is set in a fantastical version of our world, where telekinesis is real. It's the early 1900's where technological progress is being made, but people are still clinging to traditions, and being part of society is the epitome of everyone's ambitions. The Beautiful Ones have the names, the bloodlines (they sometimes ever have the money).

The narrative is split between Hector and Nina.
Hector is a world-famous telekinetic, who has been carrying a flame for Valerie, ever since she broke his heart ten years ago.
When he meets her cousin and starts to court her, Hector finds a way to stay close to Valerie, not sure if he wants to woe her or get revenge. He doesn't account for a growing friendship with Nina.

Nina is starry-eyed when she meets Hector at a party. She is also a telekinetic, but the gentile society frown upon women using those skills. Finding someone who understands her and treats her with kindness, she falls hard, an unwitting pawn.

I really enjoyed this story. It's Austen with a touch of the paranormal. I loved the charm and the manners, the expectations of society.
Coming from nothing, Hector has worked hard to be included. As a complete opposite, Nina is from a noble family, but has been allowed to grow up on complete freedom. She doesn't care about protocol, which is a refreshing contrast against the controlled and strict Valerie.

This is a slow-building romance, with a little supernatural flair. I loved reading the effect our main characters have on each other, and how they change each others' lives for the better.
How Nina loses her naivety, no longer blinded by romantic ideals; and Hector realises what an idiot he is.

This was so easy to read, the world that the author has created is full of depth, and is equally familiar and new.
There are other players, driven mainly by greed, to make sure things remain entertaining throughout.

This felt completely different to the other book I've read by this author - Gods of Jade and Shadow - but just as enjoyable.

Se pueden decir muchas cosas de Silvia Moreno-García como autora, pero quizá una de las que más destaca es su versatilidad, ya que es capaz de escribir novelas en géneros muy diversos desde la ciencia ficción a la fantasía. The Beautiful Ones, el libro que nos traemos entre manos, es otro cambio dentro de la trayectoria de la autora, que en esta ocasión nos presenta un romance en toda regla, con un ligerísimo toque de magia, pero tan pequeño que casi no influye en la trama. Se trata de una reedición de un libro publicado originalmente en 2017.


La novela trata sobre la alta sociedad y sus relaciones, se puede considerar como un romance histórico, pero lo más importante sin duda son sus personajes. Conoceremos a Nina Beaulieu, que tras haberse criado en la mansión de su adinerada familia lejos del boato de la gran ciudad, asiste a la Grand Season de la ficticia Losail para cumplir con lo que se espera de toda dama de la sociedad, cumplir con su deber y buscar un marido adecuado para ella.

Nina no es una dama al uso, más interesada por la entomología que por los vestidos y los bailes, así que cuando es recibida en la casa de su rico primo Gaeton, la esposa de este la ve más como un estorbo que como un invitado bien recibido. Todo esto se complicará cuando Nina llame la atención de Héctor, un artista de variedades que tiene un pasado oculto con Valerie.

La historia es bastante típica en este sentido, con las intrigas de la despechada Valerie y los desencuentros entre Héctor y Nina, que parecen condenados a no encontrarse nunca. La prosa brilla por ser extremadamente adecuada al tono y ritmo de la historia, con la descripción del lujo y la opulencia de las clases altas que muchas veces solo oculta rencor y maldad. Existe una crítica nada velada a estas figuras de porcelana creadas solo para satisfacer las necesidades de un grupo enquistado en sus propias costumbres anquilosadas, y a pesar de la previsibilidad del desenlace, no es menos cierto que la novela es muy entretenida de leer y cumple punto por punto con lo que se espera de ella.

The Beautiful Ones es un cambio bienvenido respecto a mis lecturas habituales, de mano de una autora muy versátil a la que merece la pena seguir.

I really enjoyed Mexican Gothic last year so I was keen to read the latest Moreno-Garcia book. The Beautiful Ones is another genre hybrid fusing a historical novel of manners with a light infusion of magical realism. This book doesn’t follow the historic gothic horror genre of Mexican Gothic but reminded me of an Edith Wharton novel. It is not entirely clear where or when the book is set, the vibe is the Gilded age of late 19th & early 20th century when the elite classes are obsessed with manners, social etiquette, old / new money classism, debutant balls and society seasons. So it goes that Hector, has made his fortune as a conjurer with telekinetic powers and returns to Loisail society to pursue an old flame and a fellow beautiful one - Valerie, who callously abandoned him 10 years previously. Knowing that she is married, he instead starts to court her husband’s cousin, enter our heroine - the plain but kind Nina. Nina has none of the social graces, skills or beauty of Valerie but has the gift of telekinesis which she can not control. This tale of forbidden romance and society expectations is a beautifully depicted and seems to be doomed from the outset, as Nina and Hector begin to fall in love as Hector teaches her how to control her powers, and Valerie’s ugly jealousy and vindictiveness becomes apparent and threatens to ruin everyone. Really enjoying the narrative style of Moreno-Garcia books and the uniqueness genre-hybrid mix up.

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