The Beautiful Length: 13 Narrator: Lauren Ezzo
Series: The Beautiful #1
Published by Penguin on August 31, 2021
Source: Library Auidobook
Pages: 480
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Format: Audiobook
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Instant New York Times and Indie Bestseller!
New York Times bestselling author Renée Ahdieh returns with a sumptuous, sultry and romantic new series set in 19th century New Orleans where vampires hide in plain sight.
In 1872, New Orleans is a city ruled by the dead. But to seventeen-year-old Celine Rousseau, New Orleans is a safe haven after she's forced to flee her life as a dressmaker in Paris. Taken in by the sisters of the Ursuline convent in the middle of the carnival season, Celine is quickly enraptured by the vibrant city, from its music to its fancy soirées and even its danger. She becomes embroiled in the city's glitzy underworld, known as La Cour des Lions, after catching the eye of the group's enigmatic leader, Sébastien Saint Germain.
When the body of one of the girls from the convent is found in Sébastien's own lair--the second dead girl to turn up in recent weeks--Celine battles her attraction to Sébastien and suspicions about his guilt along with the shame of her own horrible secret.
After a third murder, New Orleans becomes gripped by the terror of a serial killer on the loose--one who has now set Celine in his sights. As the murderer stalks her, Celine finally takes matters into her own hands, only to find herself caught in the midst of an age-old feud between the darkest creatures of the night, where the price of forbidden love is her life.
At once a sultry romance and a decadent, thrilling mystery, master storyteller Renée Ahdieh embarks on her most potent fantasy series yet.
Review
A beautiful story about wanting to find your place in life, love those you love and develop a strong sense of confidence. I was not sure how it would play out, as it reminds me a bit of some other vampire stories. I was blown away by this novel. Once you start, you don’t want to stop.
The story starts with Celine having flown from her previous life in Paris in the wake of a deep dark secret that she is deeply ashamed of. She is living in a convent in the hopes of finding a secure man to marry. She develops a deep friendship with Piper and, by chance, one day is drawn into the dark underbelly of New Orleans.
Celine has no idea what or who she develops a love interest in, and as the story unfolds, all the delicious dark terror of the most haunting vampire scenes are unveiled. I was sad about how the ending of this first book goes, but I am ready to see what happens next in Celine in Bastien’s story. If you like dark vampire tales, The Beautiful is perfect.
Audiobook Sample
About Lauren Ezzo
Lauren Ezzo is a Chicago based actor, writer, & award winning narrator of over 300 audiobooks. Authors (sel) Joyce Carol Oates; Caitlin Kiernan; F. Scott Fitzgerald; Adam Rapp; Christopher Rice Publishers (sel) PRH; S&S; Audible; Harper; Brilliance; Tantor; Scholastic Accolades (sel) SOVAS nom; Audie nom; AudioFile “Best of Year” (2016, 2020); Earphones (2015 – 2020); Odyssey Award (2021) She is a proud Michigander, & a lifelong bookworm.
About Renee Ahdieh
Renée Ahdieh is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of THE WRATH AND THE DAWN and THE ROSE AND THE DAGGER. She is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. In her spare time, she likes to dance salsa and collect shoes. She is passionate about all kinds of curry, rescue dogs, and college basketball. The first few years of her life were spent in a high-rise in South Korea; consequently, Renée enjoys having her head in the clouds. She lives in Charlotte, North Carolina, with her husband and their tiny overlord of a dog. Her most recent novel is THE FLAME IN THE MIST.
