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Synopsis (from Goodreads):
In 1872, New Orleans is a city ruled by the dead. But to seventeen-year-old Celine Rousseau, New Orleans provides her a refuge after she's forced to flee her life as a dressmaker in Paris. Taken in by the sisters of the Ursuline convent along with six other girls, Celine quickly becomes enamored with the vibrant city from the music to the food to the soirées and—especially—to the danger. She soon becomes embroiled in the city's glitzy underworld, known as La Cour des Lions, after catching the eye of the group's leader, the enigmatic Sébastien Saint Germain. When the body of one of the girls from the convent is found in the lair of La Cour des Lions, Celine battles her attraction to him and suspicions about Sébastien's guilt along with the shame of her own horrible secret.
When more bodies are discovered, each crime more gruesome than the last, Celine and New Orleans become gripped by the terror of a serial killer on the loose—one Celine is sure has set her in his sights . . . and who may even be the young man who has stolen her heart. As the murders continue to go unsolved, Celine takes matters into her own hands and soon uncovers something even more shocking: an age-old feud from the darkest creatures of the underworld reveals a truth about Celine she always suspected simmered just beneath the surface.
Review:
I am a huge fan of author Renée Ahdieh. She is a master of creating exotic atmostpheres and suspenseful situations. The Beautiful, her latest Gothic novel, is set in New Orleans in the Gilded Age. It is filled with shadowy characters, romance, and a series of grizzly murders. I loved all of this plus the audiobook performance of narrator Lauren Ezzo. She makes listening to this audiobook so much fun!
What I Liked:
Narration:Lauren Ezzo performance is truly remarkable. She completely embodies every character, from men to women, to vampires, to... others. She has to use several different accents, which helps distinguish between who is speaking, and does each one believably. She also was really was expressive when she read from the point of view of the killer! So creepy!
Narrative Style:
Most of the book is written in the third person and follows the main character, Celine. But this is interspersed with chapters from the killer's point of view. It was so compelling to try to figure out who the killer could be, based on what those chapters say.
Setting:
New Orleans in the 1870's comes alive with all the decadence of the Gilded Age. From the elaborate clothing to the multi-course feasts, the lucky few who are part of this rarefied world gluttonously gorge themselves on the efforts of others. Considering this is a vampire story, this is fitting.
Characters:
Celine is a tough survivor who is battling between her religious upbringing and her desires to live on her own terms. She has to figure out she is not only her worst mistake. People can make poor choices, but that doesn't mean they are terrible. There are more shades to people than good and evil.
Bastian is the mysterious young man who Celine is drawn to. She knows he is trouble but also that there is more to him than meets the eye. Is he a murderer, or just a tormented orphan? Why is he surrounded by a cadre of people with unusual abilities? Slowly Celine learns the truth.
I also really like Celine's friend, Pippa. She and Celine have both immigrated to New Orleans to begin a new life. Pippa may be the "side kick", but she is no push over. She is a realist who wants the security of being married. But she is also a fiercely loyal friend who stands by Celine.
Mystery:
The plot revolves around finding out who is behind a series of gruesome murders. Many of the deaths seem to be tied to Celine, but why? The killer give us many clues so we do know why Celine is involved, but not how it will be resolved. I enjoyed speculating on who the killer was. This made the book very compelling.
What I Was Mixed About:
The
book focuses on the upper echelons of New Orleans society, so much so that you
might wonder where all the Creole people are. While several characters are mixed race, there are no major characters who are Creole or African-American. That is unfortunate. Since Creole culture is so entwined with New Orleans, it is a missed opportunity not to include more characters with these backgrounds. This would have made for an even richer experience. Rating:
Author: Renée Ahdieh
Audio Publisher: Listening Library
Narrator: Lauren Ezzo
Audio Length: 13 Hrs, 10 Min.
Print Publisher: Penguin Random House
Page Length: 448 Pages
Genre: Gothic Fantasy/Historical Fiction
Source: Listening Library
Format: Audiobook
Recommendation: A very compelling listening experience, especially due to the talented narrator, Lauren Ezzo. Highly entertaining.
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