Beautiful Darkness

First off, I'd like to say that I've been waiting forever and a day for this book to be released. I was among the many that loved Beautiful Creatures. It's funny because I remember going to the Barnes & Noble and looking for the longest book I could find in the YA section. I guess it's funny because that was a lot of people's complaint about the book - it was too long. And although I can admit to it dragging a bit, I have an affection for long books. Anyhoo, back to the actual book I'm reviewing *clears throat* Beautiful Darkness. This book was just so amazing. I actually liked it just as much as the first book in the Caster Chronicles and to top it off, I think the writing was even better. The storyline was so crazy twisted and I never knew quite where it was going. It was a roller coaster of fun and saved me on a "vacation" gone awry. I really really try to make my reviews as spoiler free as possible, so as far as plot details go, I'm going to say that what happens at the very end of the book is totally crazy and Saraphine is an evil witch with a capital "B". Which I guess brings me to my character portion of the review. As always we have our adoringly wonderful Ethan. It's always nice to have a change of pace and have a book narrated by a male character. Not that I object to a female narrator, being that I am....female....but it's nice to have things all changed up. I really do like the love story between Ethan and Lena, but in this book I felt like Ethan should have been mad at Lena more than he was. Maybe it's because I'm an angry person by nature (uuuuhhh *stammers* that sounded bad), but I think the Ethan let too much go. But, I guess it's a book and mushy must come first....*big grin*. Next we have Lena, our lovely green eye/gold eye brunette beauty who can also cast all sorts of craziness your way. She was a bit twisted in her own right, which I adored. And although many of her decisions, in my opinion, sucked, I do feel for her, even through her stupidity. After what happens at the end of BC, you can't help but think Lena is in for some bad stuff up ahead. Moving on, we have Amma, Ethan's stand in mother and caretaker, who we find out so many new things about, plus, she has always been a character I love. Mostly for her superstitious ways and for the complete South that is in her. It's one of the things I love so much about this series, the deep South implanted within. Link, Ethan's best friend, is really an awesome friend and I would love one just like him. Ridley is totally nuts and maybe a bit homicidal, which I suppose is why I love her. Well, that and her fabulous wardrobe. I do think my favorite character of all time though is Macon, Lena's uncle. I know he isn't in the book much, and mostly in flashbacks, but his character to me has always been fascinating. Overall, the characters were wonderful and the plot was so surprising that I think the year wait was definitely worth it. And seriously, with prison balls, siren's who lick lollipops, a crazy pack of incubus', a secret love that spans decades, a Siamese cat that RoCkS and the Order of Things you couldn't ask for more. Summary review: This book was awesome. Better writing than the first and shorter descriptions, but still leaving the vividness in the writing. The characters were lovable and the plot surprising.

I am loving this series. Once again I was dragged into this original world of Casters. I'm probably in the minority here, but I actually enjoyed Beautiful Creatures a lot more than Beautiful Darkness, even with the slower pace of Beautiful Creatures. This one frustrated me at times and not the good kind of frustrated, the kind of frustrated where I needed to step away from the book. With that being said I did enjoy the story and thought it was a good addition to the series. I freaking love Ethan, and not in the OMG he is so swoony way, but in the you are such an amazing character kind of way. He survives a crazy world with a crazy girlfriend and will not back down or give up. Also, I love that the guy is the normal one. I've said that before, but it's worth repeating. I love that he is the one trying to save the day despite not being the most powerful. Then we have Lena. I wanted to strangle Lena on numerous occasions. I don't want to go into too much detail, but just know that Lena is very annoying in this one. Annoying to the point where I was rooting for Ethan to just give up on her. Aside from Lena though, there were some other great characters. I loved Link because he is just too funny. I also loved the addition of Liv. She was a great character and I thought a great addition to the story. I'm very curious to see what happens with her. I know many people complain about the length of these books, but I honestly don't have that problem. I love that the story is drawn out slowly. It's slow, but you can't look away. It's a good kind of slow. I never get bored and the book never feels as long as it actually is. The plot is great and always keeps me guessing. I love the Caster world and the new creatures we are constantly meeting and I love that nothing is ever as it seems. My complaint with this book is that I missed the history aspect. The Civil War played a huge role in Beautiful Creatures and I would have liked to see that continue in Beautiful Darkness. The history was still important, but I feel as if it wasn't as present in the story. Also one more thing. I felt like people kept showing up out of nowhere just when you needed them. Sure there was always a reasoning the authors included, but it just seemed constant. Every time Ethan was in trouble, someone would conveniently be where they needed to be to help him out. Aunt Prue is probably the best example of this. For those who have read it, I just had a hard time accepting that one. All in all, Beautiful Darkness is a great addition to the series, even if it did follow some of the typical second book patterns. I'm looking forward to whatever else is in store for Ethan and Lena.

good seller, the product received was as expected

I absolutely love this book the characters are top notch.

A book for teenagers, but enjoyable by parents as well. A little too teencomplex for my tastes, but refreshing the same way. And far from clueless writing.

I really enjoyed this book, I would recommended it to everyone, it has so many twists and turns which makes it so exciting and I couldn't wait to read the next chapter. In the first book I was gripped to see what happens between Lena and Ethan, but now I can't wait to see what happens with Link, Ridley and Macon too

After the pleasing end of Beautiful Creatures I was eager to read Beautiful Darkness immediately to remain in the diverse Caster universe and don't quit my quality time with Ethan yet. But I also feared the looming conflict between Lena and Ethan growing to a concrete, which is, as Beautiful Darkness is the second book in a quartet, almost inevitable to provide the structure of an overall suspense curve. Where other novels exercise the obligatory separation of our couple by keeping them away from each other completely, Ethan and Lena still got a kind of psychical connection and are only physically separated. So the importance of Ethan and Lena's psychical bond is once again accentuated. I am looking forward to learn more about their special connection in the next two books. As in Beautiful Creatures, the story is told from Ethan Wate's point of view whose character is as adorable and charming as in the first Caster Chronicles novel. There are very few male narrators in YA fantasy novels, because female authors often tend to apply female narrators I think. Although Lena's development and her decisions around becoming a light or dark Caster form the centre of the Caster Chronicles series, the story is told from Ethan's point of view. In my opinion this choice of perspective is the best the authors could have applied, because experiencing Lena through the eyes of Ethan, and so someone who loves her and cares about her fate, establishes a very intense connection with her although she isn't our narrator and supports the mysterious atmosphere of the whole story. Interesting about Beautiful Darkness is, that we see the happenings through Ethan's eyes, but are at the same time accomplice with Lena. Keeping a secret from Ethan almost broke my heart. In Beautiful Creatures there was a particular short chapter, told from Lena's point of view and I haven't read a novel before in which a single chapter of the first novel has such an enormous impact on its sequel. The conflict grows slowly but steadily and the secrets kept accumulate into an adventurous race for life or death. Various plot strands build a delicately branched web of an unforeseeable suspense you can't but get caught in. In the end there seem to be many secrets unsolved and still a gigantic potential left. Not only main characters show major changes, secondary characters, too. Characters being cold and resistant before finally show feelings, evil and cruel characters become even crueller. Also many new characters are introduced. Some are new allies, friendly and light, others are even darker than the already established Beautiful Creatures villains. A satisfying sequel to Beautiful Creatures, full of all-consuming emotions, inevitable decisions and unforeseeable outcomings. Do you already feel the beautiful darkness creeping into your heart? THE VERDICT Again, a beautifully written novel by the talented casters Garcia and Stohl. They once again proof their talent to apply witty elements and develop an extensive storyline by creating an universe of a novel which is as huge and infinite as the Caster sky itself. And as many constellations there are to spot, there are just as many opportunities for exciting and new story elements, special abilities and characters. New fantasy elements meet solid writing style- The Caster world fills the gap between werewolves and vampires, faeries and magicians and leaves an urgent need for more.