The Beautiful Ones – Silvia Moreno-Garcia
Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s work is the epitome of books that in theory sound like they’re perfect for me but somehow fail to capture me. This is the third of her books that I’ve read – after Gods of Jade and Shadow and Mexican Gothic – and again, the pitch sounded like something that I’d absolutely love. Fantasy of manners, combining high society with magic and courtship. But once again, I struggled with its execution.
Many thanks to Ella Patel and Jo Fletcher Books for sending me an ARC of The Beautiful Ones. All opinions are my own.
RELEASE DATE: 27/04/2021
STAR RATING: 3.5/5 ✶
SUMMARY: They are the Beautiful Ones, Loisail’s most notable socialites, and this spring is Nina’s chance to join their ranks, courtesy of her well-connected cousin and his calculating wife. But the Grand Season has just begun and already Nina’s debut has gone disastrously awry. She has always struggled to control her telekinesis: the haphazard manifestations of her powers have long made her the subject of gossip – malicious neighbours even call her the Witch of Oldhouse.
But Nina’s life is about to change, for there is a new arrival in town: Hector Auvray, the renowned entertainer, who has used his own telekinetic talent to perform for admiring audiences around the world. Nina is dazzled by Hector, for he sees her not as a witch, but ripe with magical potential. Under his tutelage, Nina’s talent blossoms – as does her love for the great man.
But great romances are for fairy-tales, and Hector is hiding a secret bitter truth from Nina – and himself – that threatens their courtship. (from Jo Fletcher)
OPINIONS: The Beautiful Ones is a beautifully written story of intrigue, high society and romance, with a dash of magic thrown in. But while there isn’t anything wrong with the book itself, it failed to capture my heart and maintain tension throughout the story. In what seems to have become a pattern with Moreno-Garcia’s books for me, I love the openings, and then get distracted and bored as the story sputters on. I really struggle to put my finger on what exactly it is that makes me disconnect with her work so much as all of the books I’ve picked up are quite different in genre and have fantastic premises that tempt me into trying again – but then the issues I end up having are quite similar.
I think it might be something that comes down to characters. They are well-crafted, but they lack emotions – and the emotional connection is something that I find crucial to the enjoyment of a book for me. This is probably also partially down to the setting, as The Beautiful Ones, as all of the books by Moreno-Garcia I’ve read, are set in the early twentieth century, in a society that is rather stilted and stiff, and thus not as open and ready to show emotions. It really comes down to personal preference I think – in no way is The Beautiful Ones a bad book, just one that doesn’t work too well for me personally.
If you are a fan of Regency romances, of fantasy of manners books in general, this is a book for you. If you adored Bridgerton, check this out. If you are intrigued, you can add The Beautiful Ones to your Goodreads here, and order a copy from Bookshop here (affiliate link).