by Brittany Wyatt
Once I finished “The Beautiful Ones” by Silvia Moreno-Garcia, I was honestly baffled by what I had read. It was not a terrible book by any means, but it failed to truly stand out as anything but bizarre.
The novel follows the story of Nina, a girl who leaves her country home to find excitement in the city. She bonds with a magician, Hector, over their shared supernatural abilities. However, there is the looming threat of Valerie, Nina’s cousin by marriage, who has a secret connection to Hector that she has never shared with anyone.
As a supernatural period romance, the combination makes one question what they are getting into. Of course, there is some excitement, as stranger combinations have made for masterpieces – perhaps it could stand the test of time with some exquisite execution.
This is not to say that some aspects of the novel are not, in fact, exquisite. The prose and symbolism that lay between the front and back covers manage to stand out as a testament to Moreno-Garcia’s incredible ability to capture genuinely complex and dynamic emotions, particularly when describing the worldview of the elegant yet angry Valerie Beaulieu.
However, any hope for a knockout story is quickly dashed by other, more underwhelming aspects.
The beginning entices the reader into a lavish, unfamiliar world of whimsy. It is always easy to fall in love with an author’s different interpretation of some historical period, especially considering the fantasy genre’s obsession with the medieval.
It is also lovely to meet Nina, the main character, who serves as an underdog, searching the city for love, status, and acceptance. However, the wonderfully paced intrigue of the first half is pushed aside midway through the novel. Here, the reader begins to wonder, “What is the point? Why did I not just quit while I was ahead?”
The few plot points after this point are dull and meaningless, except for the story’s antagonist, who is the best part in every way.
As for the supernatural aspect of this novel, it could have been done without. The one part of the story that makes it unique among other young adult romances renders it arbitrary. There is no point in its inclusion in the characters’ lives.
In aspects where the supernatural should have been vital to the progression of the plot, it falters and is forgotten about, at least in the reader’s mind. When it returns, it takes time and effort to get past it. The magic that this world sets up does not add to the whimsy or wonder: it is merely used as a plot device that distracts from the story’s true purpose – romance.
The love interests in this story are not particularly compelling. Of course, Nina is delightful, but her attraction to her counterpart is questionable. The story would have been better if it were told from the perspective of Valeria, our previously mentioned antagonist.
Her vitriol is so delightfully portrayed that it is hard to not find yourself skipping the chapters that do not include her. When she is at odds with Nina, she steals the show. If it were her story that was told, then there would have been something unique to display. As for the current state of “The Beautiful Ones,” I am sorry to say that I have read the same basic tale before.
