Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl

This is the first book in the paranormal YA series about the ancient witch family Caster, and the Southern town Gatlin with a long history of hidden secrets. I loved the magic system, the strong and fierce characters and the Southern Gothic vibes. I actually picked this book up after having watched the film adaptation that I highly enjoyed, so I had very high expectations, which luckily were more than met. 

The two main characters are teenagers Ethan and Lena. Ethan has lived in small town Gatlin his entire life, but has never really fit in. After the death of his mother, Ethan’s father shuts himself away, and Ethan can think of nothing but leaving Gatlin and never returning. But the arrival of a new girl in town rocks his whole world. Lena is the niece to the mysterious Macon Ravenwood who lives in the ‘haunted’ manor outside town, but more than that she is the girl Ethan has been dreaming of in these weirds dreams where he sees a girl falling but never succeeds to catch her but wakes up with sheets covered in dirt and mud, the smell of rosemary and lemons, the song “Sixteen Moons” playing.

Ethan and Lena are immediately drawn to each other and soon it is revealed that Lena is a Caster witch who on her 16th birthday will either be claimed by the Light or the Dark based on her true nature. Hence the song Ethan has been hearing…
I really loved the different set-up with the old town history, the Gothic vibes and that the boy was the “week mortal” and the girl the fierce and not purely good witch. There were a lot of well developed and interesting characters, and a captivating magical world building.

Overall, it was such a captivating story with all secrets to be revealed, the threat of the spell claiming Lena, the conflicts and disapproval of Ethan’s and Lena’s relationship from both their families and the doubts of Lena’s true nature. I enjoyed this book immensely and can’t wait to continue the series!

Rating:
4.5 magical stars rounding up to 5

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​Author info:
Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl