I read The Beautiful soon after it came out and I thought that it was only okay. To me it seemed like an average YA vampire novel, (which I've missed), but I wasn't in a hurry to read The Damned. However, I just read the Sneak Peek for this novel, and surprisingly really enjoyed it. Odette was my favorite character in the first one and I still love her and enjoy her POV. Bastien's POV was also interesting after the events at the end of the first novel. My favorite part is the setting being New Orleans - which is one of my favorite places to visit - and getting to hear and learn more about it.

I'm definitely intrigued now and will be adding this one to my TBR. Perfect for spooky season!

I started this book immediately after finishing The Beautiful, which I really enjoyed. I could not wait to see what happened next with Bastien and Celine. I didn’t realize how much we needed a new ya vampire (and other underworld-type creatures) series until this one. This book continues the dark, mysterious atmosphere from the first book but without the murder mystery element.

I loved all the character development this book gave us. Having different perspectives for chapters gave it a more robust feel that the first book I’m my opinion. It was nice to see glimpses inside the minds of so many of the supporting characters and get to know many of them a bit better.

Most of the beginning of the book understandably centers around Bastien and the limit of this did give it a relatively slow start. I understand the necessity of it in the grand scheme of the story but it did make it a little difficult to get back into the swing of things especially after the way the first book ended.

All in all, I thought this book was just as good as the first and cannot wait to continue with the series when the third book is available.

The Damned takes place right after the events of The Beautiful. Celine is recovering from her injuries and loss of memory and Sebastien is now cursed. A war between the Fallen and the Brotherhood is imminent. As Bastien and Celine come together they soon learn that their love for one another could be what is tearing them apart. Choices must be made and sacrifices must be had. I am so glad that Renee is continuing the series through a different characters perspective, because I love the world she has built and want to see more of these characters.

Initial Thoughts

I was SO excited to read this book. I really enjoyed The Beautiful and when Penguin Teen offered me the chance to review this one early, I was like YES, PLEASE!

Some Things I Liked

Different POV. I just loved that Bastien was the first person POV in this book and I really loved how that matched the title. Celine was “the beautiful” and the first person POV in the first book, and Bastien is now “damned” so he’s the main POV in this book. I also liked that we had chapters that followed other characters throughout the story.
BAHHH the love story. Ok, BAHHH is not exactly an articulate way to describe something. But, it’s me basically word vomiting all over this post because I loved it so much. Celine and Bastien are just so perfect and so stubborn and they made for such a great romance read.
Poor Michael. Yes, I list this in things I liked. Michael is ok but, Bastien > Michael all day every day. I hope Michael finds a nice lady in the next book, not Celine. Celine is spoken for. But, I do feel bad for him.
ODETTE – yes, all caps for Odette and how much I loved her as a character. She deserves a series all to herself. She’s so tragic and self-loathing and I love her for it. Where’s her person? Renée Ahdieh, please give Odette a love story!

Series Value

If there is not another book in this series, I do not know what I will do. The ending was so ridiculously open-ended, there can’t not be more. However, I really like the poetry of the names as just “The Beautiful” and “The Damned” – what would Renée Ahdieh even call the next book?

Final Thoughts

I liked The Beautiful but I loved The Damned. The twists, the POVs, Bastien as the primary narrator. The pages literally oozed with drama and I can’t wait for more. Although more is unconfirmed, I will continue to wish for more!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This was a fabulous introduction to this the second book in this atmospheric series about Vampires surviving in New Orleans. Following on directly from the first book The Beautiful we find Sebastian a reluctant and newly turned Vampire . What I particularly enjoyed was the way the author got into the heads of her characters and yes these Vampires might appear beautiful and charming but it was quickly apparent that they are truly dangerous and that humans are simply prey.
This voluntary take is of a sneak peek and not the full length book . My thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair

Simply amazing!! I can't wait to read the full story. I only heard great things about it so far. Thank you for the sneak peek!

I really enjoyed The Beautiful and I was very excited to read this sneak peek of The Damned! This excerpt immediately grabbed my interest with Bastien’s plight, learning more about Odette, and the sense of dark danger throughout. Renée Ahdieh's books are always filled with beautiful prose and fascinating characters. I can't wait to see how the story continues! The Damned is out now! Thank you to Renée Ahdieh, Penguin Young Readers Group, and Netgalley for a free excerpt of this book in exchange for honest feedback.

I fell in love with the first book. Vampires are a timeless classic, and Ahdieh' writing style is truly poetic. I can't wait to read the rest of this book!

I read The Beautiful last year and as soon as I saw that the sequel was coming, I knew I had to have it. Ahdieh's writing style draws you in right from the start and is absolutely stunning. I will be picking up The Damned as soon as I can! (And as soon as I finish some of my already too long tbr pile). I need more Bastian and Odette in my life

*Thank you to NetGalley for sending the first few chapters of this book for me to review!*

Thank you PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group, G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers for providing me with a sneak peek of this book!

Even though I did not get the full experience of the book, I was still very excited to read this and once again dive into the world of Renée Ahdieh! The Wrath and the Dawn is one of my favorite duologies and when I learned about this series, I immediately knew that it was one I needed to read.
The Damned picks up after the events of the Beautiful and follows Celine and Bastien as they struggle to put together the pieces of what happened at the end of the first book.
Celine has lost her memory but somehow still finds herself drawn to Bastien and his group as she was before.

I cannot wait to read the rest of this book soon and find out what happens to these characters!

I really enjoyed reading The Beautiful, I'm so exciting that there's a sneak peek of the second book.
I can't wait to finish reading this sequel.

I absolutely loved The Beautiful and I was so excited for the secquel! The writing is so beautiful and the romance makes my heart swoon. I love this series so much!

I loved the first book and I was so excited to know there was gonna be a second book. This sampler makes me excited for the second book, so I'm gonna have to go reread the first before I dive into the second.

I read the first one so when I saw this as an option to request, I snatched it up!

I enjoyed both books but I feel like maybe this one lost a little of the spark from the first book.

I also didn't love the switching up of the POV, it didn't feel necessary.

The way it ended, I'm assuming there will be a sequel, but I haven't decided if I'll read it yet.