Beautiful Darkness by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl

Rating:
Characters: 17/20
Plot: 16/20
Originality: 18/20
Writing: 19/20
Recommendation: 18/20
Overall: 88/100 or B
Source: Publisher
Ethan Wate used to think of Gatlin, the small Southern town he had always called home, as a place where nothing ever changed. Then he met mysterious newcomer Lena Duchannes, who revealed a secret world that had been hidden in plain sight all along. A Gatlin that harbored ancient secrets beneath its moss-covered oaks and cracked sidewalks. A Gatlin where a curse has marked Lena's family of powerful supernaturals for generations. A Gatlin where impossible, magical, life-altering events happen.
Sometimes life-ending.
Together they can face anything Gatlin throws at them, but after suffering a tragic loss, Lena starts to pull away, keeping secrets that test their relationship. And now that Ethan's eyes have been opened to the darker side of Gatlin, there's no going back. Haunted by strange visions only he can see, Ethan is pulled deeper into his town's tangled history and finds himself caught up in the dangerous network of underground passageways endlessly crisscrossing the South, where nothing is as it seems.

I really enjoyed Beautiful Creatures, and had huge expectation for Beautiful Darkness. There were a few things that I loved and a thing or two that I didn't. It picks right up where the last book ended. Lena and Ethan are still star crossed lovers that can't be together for obvious reasons. Lena is a Castor and Ethan isn't. I didn't feel that the characters developed as much as I would like. Lena seems to be come childlike and lost into a pit of darkness, because all that she can feel is the darkness. Ethan tries to assure her that it will passed. Instead a huge wedge is formed between them and their relationship seems to slowly crumble. This play a great part in the actions of Lena and Ethan. Link and Ridley returns and they bring in a comedic effect to the book and also both developed a lot. The Sisters, Amma, and Marian the Librarian return. Along with plenty of new characters, such as Liv, who is fantastic. There were a few characters that weren't developed as I hoped.
The plot of Beautiful Darkness was full of so much information. A few times, I felt a little overwhelmed with all the information that came at one time and also the pacing was all over the place. I felt that parts of it could have been shortened, because it was so slow at times. It felt like it could have been simplified. I did like how original it was. I love the Castor world and how unique it is. I honestly can't compare it to any book. Stohl and Garcia are stunning writers. It blends so well together. I am sure that you would love this book, if you liked Beautiful Creatures. I enjoyed it despite my complaints.

Beautiful Creatures Signing

Last night, I went to a signing for Beautiful Creatures. I loved the book and I have talked to the author a few times. So, I was super excited to go.
Kami and Margie started off with explaining how they wrote the book and their love for Diet Coke. Also where they got their ideas and much more.
Then Kami did a reading of Beautiful Creatures and then there was a Q&A time.
Then Kami explained the contest that they are doing and gave the first clue from Melissa Marr's book Wicked Lovely.

Then it was time to sign books. I also gave them a bag of goodies which you can see.

Kimberly Derting, author of the soon to be released The Body Finder(I think it is 22 days now!) was there.
My Cybils buddy Jackie Parker was there.
Liz Gallagher(Author of The Opposite of Invisible) was there too. I got to have a lovely chat with all of them!

Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Magaret Stohl

Rating:
Characters: 19/20
Plot: 18/20
Originality: 20/20
Writing: 19/20
Recommendation: 20/20
Overall: 96/100 or A
Ethan Wate, who has been counting down the day until he can escape the small town of Gatlin, is haunted by a dream of a beautiful girl he has never met. Then Lena Duchannes moves into the oldest and most infamous plantation with her reclusive Uncle Macon. Ethan is inexplicably drawn to her and is determined to uncover the connection between them.
Lena is unlike anyone in Gatlin. She is struggling to conceal her powers, and a curse that has haunted her family for generations. Even within the overgrown gardens, murky swamps, and the graveyard of the south and the past. A secret can not be hidden for much longer.
Ethan and Lena were both amazing characters. Ethan was sweet, swoon worthy, and protective of Lena. Lena was strong willed and caring. Ethan and Lena were both interesting and amazing together. Uncle Macon and Amma were both an interesting characters. I really enjoyed Ethan's great aunts Mercy, Prudence, and Grace, also know as "The Sisters". They were hilarious together. The plot was fast paced and gripping. I could not put this Beautiful Creature down. There were a few plot holes, but I think that they will be solved more in the next book. Also the pacing was off a few times, but it was still a great plot. Garcia and Stohl were an amazing writing duo. Beautiful Creatures is filled with a gorgeous details and a charming setting. I highly recommend Beautiful Creatures, it will bring you into a world that you will never want to leave.

Book Trailer

So, here is Vania's Trailer for Beautiful Creatures. I have been kind of waiting for it, since I heard that she is making the trailer. It is so well done and reminds me of the book. So yay!