This is a spoiler-free review. The Beautiful Ones by Silvia Moreno-Garcia follows the intertwining stories of love of Hector, Antonina, and Valérie. This love story, however, isn’t all roses and happiness. It is filled with gripping emotions and leaves a reader wondering what love truly is.
I received this eARC (advanced readers copy) of The Beautiful Ones through Netgalley, thanks to St. Martin’s Press / Thomas Dunne Books. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
My Summary
Antonina, or Nina as she likes to be called, is a telekinetic, she has the ability to move objects with a single thought. She is entering her first Grand Season, a time where she must attend balls and social gatherings in hopes of finding a husband. She has a fiery personality with little care for what the world around her thinks. She is under the watchful eye of her cousin’s wife, Valérie, who demands everything be done particularly, which Antonina doesn’t often oblige to. Valérie is also a jealous woman, which can never be a good thing.
Antonina meets Hector, a dazzling performer who also has telekinetic abilities. She requests he helps her master her own powers, and he agrees, though his reason is deceptive. His past love was Valérie, and he is using Antonina to get closer to her. Antonina is quickly falling for Hector, and it’s only a matter of time before her heart is broken, but what happens when Hector soon finds himself falling for Antonina?
Overall Thoughts
I was absolutely astounded by the writing, though I had been expecting something different from the blurb. I was assuming I would be reading a paranormal romance, but instead I was greeted with something that felt like a historical romance set in a different yet familiar world. This story is also very character-driven, which was a pleasant change from my usual readings.
I found myself quickly wanting to know more about the characters. I adored Nina’s naive and spunky personality, Hector’s blind yet stoic love, and Valérie’s calculating jealousy. Each character contributed well to the story. At one point, the story even went from a love triangle to a love square, which was quite interesting to read.
One of the biggest emotions I encountered was for Hector. He seemed to have one of the largest developments for the characters. There were parts of the story when I couldn’t decide whether or not I hated him, but in a way that kept me wanting to read more. The characters in this story definitely had depth that made them feel like real people.
The telekinetic bit was important, but not as important as the overarching story. True, it brings Antonina and Hector together, but I felt they could have came together without it. It added an interesting element, but it didn’t take center stage for the story.
Final Thoughts:
I thought this was a wonderful book. I was dazzled by the characters and the world. As I was reading, I continually had questions, which were all answered. I would recommend this story to those who enjoy historical romances that are character driven and want a bit of a fantasy aspect.
Rating: 4.5/5 on Goodreads
Further Information:
ISBN: 9781250099068
RELEASE DATE: OCT 24, 2017
PAGE COUNT: 327
WHERE TO BUY: Amazon – Barnes & Noble – iBooks
Makayla Sophia 