Beautiful Story: Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl

Beautiful Creatures is a book I decided to read based on a recommendation by a friend and I was not disappointed.

The book is set in the rural south of America and although I am not American I still found it easy to relate to the 'small town feel' that Garcia and Stohl convey. The characters have very obvious focus points and it is not difficult to find yourself 'routing for the underdogs' and 'booing the bad guys' within  the first couple chapters.

The supernatural element has obviously well researched by Garcia and Stohl but sometimes an air of 'unlikeliness' does tend to cloud the brain. However it is not over complicated and although some of the scenes in Ravenwood make one think of Disney's 'Beauty and the Beast', the storyline is strong.

By the end of the novel, I came to feel satisfied although some of my dying questions had not come to be answered. Hopefully, book two: Beautiful Darkness will answer some of these questions I am dying to know.

I would summarize the book as simply 'worth reading even if it is just for the experience'.

Fledging the Nest: Fledgling by Natasha Brown

The relationship created by Natasha Brown in 'Fledgling', between Chance and Ana is very realistic, not like those created by authors set to Stephanie Meyer and LJ Smith. Relationship develops a reasonable rate, not too quick, not too fast, as the story progresses. However the relationship is very exciting in the beginning but lags slightly as the book advances, until the critical moments arrive.

Ana is a lovely character and highlights, how difficult it is doing normal things (that we take for granted) can be, for those with heart problems and other difficulties.

Chance's character does not fully develop until the end but this encourages the reader to read on and find out more about him.

The supporting characters create a feel of normality and emphasise the problems that families with children who have medical difficulties face.

Without giving too much away, the supernatural element of the novel is very good and obviously well thought out. Although the idea is not entirely original, Brown has done well to make it her own.

The atmosphere created by Brown out this book is commendable. It is as though a kind of warmth is seeping through the pages.