Beautiful Creatures

Beautiful Creatures, Book 1

By: Kami Garcia, Margaret Stohl

Narrated by: Kevin T. Collins

Length: 17 hrs and 33 mins

Publisher's summary

The first book in the instant New York Times best-selling gothic fantasy series; a modern paranormal romance set against the gothic backdrop of an isolated southern town.

Lena Duchannes is unlike anyone the small Southern town of Gatlin has ever seen, and she's struggling to conceal her power, and a curse that has haunted her family for generations. But even within the overgrown gardens, murky swamps and crumbling graveyards of the forgotten South, a secret cannot stay hidden forever. Ethan Wate, who has been counting the months until he can escape from Gatlin, is haunted by dreams of a beautiful girl he has never met.

When Lena moves into the town's oldest and most infamous plantation, Ethan is inexplicably drawn to her and determined to uncover the connection between them. In a town with no surprises, one secret could change everything.

Download the accompanying reference guide.

©2009 Kami Garcia (P)2009 Hachette

absalulty amazing story

a wonderful and spellbinding story. magic, love, adventure it has it all. I read the books in hard back and was griped. I read all 4 in 3 weeks. the audio books are even more amazing. a new and amazing way to go through the seares again. I got my girlfriend into them and she's loving every momment of the story. it's a good story to share with the one you love. or just to read and go on a great adventure with.

Interesting, but not capitvating

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

Yes if you are bored. interesting story idea, but the book is less exciting than it could be.

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

Lena's powers showing themselves and possibly getting her into trouble. The book tends to drag.

What did you like about the performance? What did you dislike?

I thought the narrator did a nice job changing his voice for the characters. The music was boring and distracting. The dream sequences are strange and I thought the mp3 file was corrupt. Cannot hear what the character is saying during the dream sequences.

Did Beautiful Creatures inspire you to do anything?

Not read the rest of the series. Although I have read other reviews that state you have to get through this book to enjoy the others. Their ratings are higher, apparently the series gets better after this book? Not sure if it will be worth the gamble.

Can't stop listening

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I was so eager to read this book as the movie is coming out. I listen every day. It's even keeping me from going to sleep!

What was one of the most memorable moments of Beautiful Creatures?

Hearing the rain storms

Which character – as performed by Kevin T. Collins – was your favorite?

Maken

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

yes

Amazing Audible

I had read the paper book first and then decided to listen to the book. This audible is my favorite to listen to by far! The voices are clearly distinct, and the addition of actual sound effects and music really makes it!

Hard to follow

I couldn't finish this book. I couldn't pay attention to the narrator. Slow progressing story line

Refreshing Storyline and Intriguing

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes, because it was not what I expected.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Beautiful Creatures?

Don't want to spoil any part of the story for anyone else.

What about Kevin T. Collins’s performance did you like?

He was very passionate and his voice was very distinctive.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The part of the book that particularly moved me was when Macon was willing to give his life in order for his neice to live in peace and happiness.

beyond my expectations

I am absolutely in Love my go to book no matter my mood this is always the book I go to I know it word for word the narrator is beautiful I can picture each character perfectly you will never be confused on who is talking and it's hard not to like all and I do mean all the characters overall the book is well written and the movie doesn't do it any justice

One of my favorites!

Where does Beautiful Creatures rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Top 5 for sure.

What other book might you compare Beautiful Creatures to and why?

I don't know. Definitely not Twilight. I saw people saying that in the earlier comments and it almost made me not buy it. I 'm so glad I did! I couldn't get through the first chapter of Twilight, but I couldn't put this one down!!

Which character – as performed by Kevin T. Collins – was your favorite?

They are all so amazing. He does an amazing job. If I had to pick though, I would say Link or Ama.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

ABSOLUTELY!!!

Any additional comments?

Read this. The attention to the setting and all the characters are amazing. I listened to the entire series and plan to listen again soon. Kevin T. Collins did such an awesome job too!!

If you keep in mind it's a YA book, you'll love it

What made the experience of listening to Beautiful Creatures the most enjoyable?

Being from a small town in Georgia where hardly anyone ever leaves and traditions are sacred, I could competely relate to the setting of the book. Ethan at one point (I can't remember if it's in this book or the next), says that Savannah always wins the pageant and her mother had always won before her. It's the same way in the town I grew up. I always called my town the "Who's your dad?" town because your "status" was based on who your parents were. I found myself giggling many times when the novel came so close to describing my own high school experience. For those of you not from the South, the things said in this novel are really done. We like our Civil War reinactments. We love our pies. We pile casseroles on the kitchen tables of people who've recently had a death in the family. Also...YES, people DO still call it the "War of Northern Aggression."

What was one of the most memorable moments of Beautiful Creatures?

There were many memorable moments. I don't think I could pick just one, and if I told them, I think I'd give away too much. Nobody likes a spoiler.

Have you listened to any of Kevin T. Collins’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I have not listened to any of Kevin T. Collin's other performances, but I enjoyed this one. He does a fair job with the voices to let you know which character is speaking. I wish his southern accent had been a little better. I understand that Ethan wasn't supposed to have a Southern accent, but the older characters needed a bit more draaawl.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

I hate giving away things in the story line. I don't understand why you ask these questions. Again, there were many, but I think the most moving moment was when Ethan finally went into his father's study and found that his "great American novel" was nothing but stacks and stacks of papers with nothing but doodles on them.

Any additional comments?

Aside from the normal things people are looking for when you read (or listen to a book like this), i.e. paranormal romance, you're going to find a whole other story behind the story. You'll find rich character description going hand in hand with a wonderful setting.

Hooked right away!

Would you consider the audio edition of Beautiful Creatures to be better than the print version?

I think so. I melted into the story because Kevin T. Collins did such a great job.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Beautiful Creatures?

I honestly can not pick just one.

What does Kevin T. Collins bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

His emotion and accents are amazing. Every character has a different voice it is truly amazing. I can't believe he did the book by himself.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes and then wanted another one to listen to all in one setting and another.

Any additional comments?

Do not get this book if you are expecting it to be like the movie. Because, this book is 800 million times BETTER than the movie. If you do get this book you will not regret any moment of it.