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

Sound Effects.....Really.....?

I really enjoyed the story. The narrator was good. He was very well spoken and really helped to immerse you into the story. That being said, I did not like the production of this audio version of Beautiful Creatures. There were sound effects and music throughout the story that greatly distracted from the narrator's performance and the entire experience. It made it difficult to get through the story. I am glad that I stuck with it, but I probably would have preferred to read it rather then listen given the strangeness of the sound effects.

Well done!

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

The story is nothing out of this world, but it's interesting enough to keep you listening.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Alma, the housekeeper is your traditional black southern overprotective wanna be mom. Too funny.

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

No, this is my first one, but I love his narrations and characters... A+

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

Yes, if I could I would have.

Any additional comments?

Between the amazing narration and the story you have quite an entertaining book here. I really enjoyed it.

Love torn teens against the odd try to save other!

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

I never read the printed version and after listening to the audio I never will. It's a classic Romeo and Juliet story if Juliet had magic powers and Romeo was merely human. Still it's not an awful story. It keeps you just enough interested that you want to get to the end even if it's a little predictable. I am not sure I would be willing to sit through a book two of this series though, I am not sure there is anything left to say. Yes there mystery as Ian builds the mystery out of mostly his dreams and talking to his girlfriend about how and the if's of spellcasters and the meaning of her kind of curse. Is she destined to go black or could she go white. Honestly I didn't really care that much the way the story was told.

Who was your favorite character and why?

I guess Ian was because he was the story teller of the story and you saw the story through a 17 year old hormonal teenage boy. Who was a little bit more than your average jock air head and was a deep thinker. He always thought before acting which is different from most 17 year hormonal driven teenage boys I have known in my life.

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

He had a good southern accent that went with Ian and made his story a little more to your liking but honestly in parts because the story dragged in some places and was predictable in others it wasn't his narration that was the downfall of the story. But don't take me the wrong way I still gave it 4 stars so it was awful either.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

To ill fate teens must cross the boundaries between the human and magic worlds to maintain there love. Or something as equally corny like that.

Any additional comments?

I gave this audio book 4 stars. But I was being generous. It's not awful and is interesting in places. I actual did enjoy most of it when it wasn't a classic Romeo/Juliet teenage angst romance novel. Other than that the magic paranormal parts were interesting and imaginative. I like the librarian best in the story. Over I call it a 4 star book.

Amazing book

At first I didn't know if I would like this book but I like to try out new things. It has an amazing story line and plot I absolutely love it will be getting the series

Wish I read it years before

This book has been on my "to read list" for 11 years. Wish I read it sooner.

Powerful

I found the book to be hauntingly powerful as you feel their connection grow stronger pulling the reader in.

Beautiful Story, Creative Plot, Interesting Charac

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

The background music, the song

What did you like best about this story?

Realistic teenager in high school background. Good pacing. Kept up interest with some mystery as to what was happening. Love story is sweet.

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

Ethan and Lena.

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

Yes. there were many such moments. The way Lena caused things in nature to happen by her moods and emotions....and Ethan understood her and stood by her, tried to protect her. Their relationship grew to be very sweet and caring.

Any additional comments?

no.

Dark and Different!

If you could sum up Beautiful Creatures in three words, what would they be?

Gothic, Casters, Ethan

What did you like best about this story?

I like that it was from a male perspective. It was new and different. I like the Caster background it was different from witches and fairies and other supernatural beings I have read about.

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

He has a good voice. I also like that they sing the Sixteen Moon song and that when it is a dream sequence that the audio changes.

Really Enjoyed This Book

I watched this movie before I listened to this book. Like the movie, but really liked the book. I enjoyed the details that the book had that the movie left out or changed. I really am glad I gave this book a chance. I have purchased the whole series. Can't wait to hear them all.

love the story, and the performance is fantastic!

The narrator nailed this book, the accents are great, distinct, and consistent, never distracting. I like that they incorporated the sound effects and music they did, it was subtle and appropriate, and added to the atmosphere of the story. My only issue with this audiobook is that the book isn't as long as it appears to be because there is bonus material interview stuff tacked on to the end of the book, but it's still not a short book, it just took me by surprise.
The story is engaging and the detail given to the description of the characters, town, and events makes them feel very authentic. Even though it's essentially a supernatural romance story, it never feels flowery or trite, it feels believable. The writing is engaging and the story held my interest from start to finish.