Renée Ahdieh

New York Times bestselling author Renée Ahdieh returns with the second installment of her new sumptuous, sultry and romantic series, The Beautiful. 'Captivating . . . Ahdieh's darkest and most compelling novel yet' Cultress on The Beautiful Following the events of The Beautiful, Sébastien Saint Germain is now cursed and forever changed. The treaty between the Fallen and the Brotherhood has been broken, and war between the immortals seems imminent. The price of loving Celine was costly. But Celine has also paid a high price for loving Bastien. Still recovering from injuries sustained during a night she can't quite remember, her dreams are troubled. And she doesn't know she has inadvertently set into motion a chain of events that could lead to her demise and unveil a truth about herself she's not quite ready to learn. Forces hiding in the shadows have been patiently waiting for this moment for centuries. And just as Bastien and Celine begin to uncover the danger around them, they learn their love could tear them apart. The Damned, the latest installment in The Beautiful series, is just as decadent, thrilling, and mysterious as the last.

a sumptuous and sultry young adult romantic fantasy

The Damned

In 19th century New Orleans, Sébastien Saint Germain, cursed and forever changed, and Celine, recovering from injuries sustained during a night she cannot remember, uncover the danger around them, including their love.

Moonchild

The beautiful 

This will be my honest review in exchange for the sample of the eARC “The Beautiful” that was very kindly sent to me by NetGalley, since I have the physical book I would make a complete review.

This is a historic romance with the gothic ambience of New Orleans in 1872.
We have 2 perspectives, which we read along the book, alternating between each other, which made the book very intriguing, urging me to find out who gave us one of the perspectives.
On one side we have the vision and description of murders that are happening. The other narrative is from our protagonist young lady, called Celine, a dressmaker from Paris that ran and got refuge in a convent where she pretends to stay to hide from her past. She’s rapidly sucked into the dark underworld of this city, intrigued by the amount of killings that are happening.

People assume there’s a serial killer on the loose, and Celine might be the next.
Something very positive about this character is that I can feel she is a strong person, not the usual naive girl that needs assistance.” She was no lamb. She was alion.”

The writer makes us emerge into the story by her amazing description and atmospheric writing style, I love to see cultural diversity I’m Portuguese and every time the word Portuguese was mentioned I felt so happy, we can very subliminally see Celine being described has Asian, Michael our detective is Italian has well has the layer being described has Indian, the subject doesn’t make a lot of emphasis but we see the point and why, in that time was happening, turns all the story realistic lightly touching the subject of inclusion and racism, the point of it is that makes me happy and proud to know that I’m supporting writers that deserve it for being so inclusive.

I feel that the book delivered what was promised, we get all the answers to our questions, who is murdering, is there more than just vampires? Etc…
The romance it’s a slow burn which I appreciate gives it another dimension, we feel the tension and attraction. I liked to see how things had to happen between them so far, the intensification of their feelings is plausible. 
In all, I feel that the plot wasn’t too complex but the way this book ended left a spark to jump into the next one. 
I would like to add that I love when Shakespeare's is used in any story, has a metaphor retelling or has a devotion for a hopeless romantic. I loved this and the fact that brought back my hopes for the vampire novels/ series
#sneakpeakthedamned #NetGalley #bookreview

Tatiana

The Damned: 3/5


  “What you are has no bearing on who you become, Sebastien. Man or demon, that is entirely up to you. It is never too late to chase the better version of yourself.”

Premise:
The Damned picks up directly after the events of The Beautiful. The main premise of this story is a spoiler for book one, so I do not want to go into any detail, but it delves into the political intrigue of the supernatural and what that may mean for our main characters.

Writing & Plot:
Like The Beautiful, we are met with excellent prose and a masterfully flowing story. The way it's writing is organic and very easy to fall into. My questions about the vagueness of the supernatural in the previous book were answered. This book mainly surrounds the lives of the supernatural, which I enjoyed.

While the setting and style were outstanding, the pacing of this book is still relatively slow. Nothing really happens until the final 150 pages, and even then, the climax is at the very end, and so much happens so fast, it is hard to keep track.

Characters:
My love for Bastien only grows. The Damned mainly follows Bastien rather than Celine, and I loved that. I like Bastien as a character, and therefore, I thought that was an asset to the story. My criticisms for the last book are resolved as we uncover secrets about the side characters, which adds complexity and development. Overall, the characters in this installment are a win.

Conclusion:
This is an excellent sequel to The Beautiful, but the pacing cannot be overlooked. This is an extremely slow book until the end, which borders on overwhelming. However, the characters shine, and I think it is a worthwhile read.

Savannah Lowe

Mae Erceg

I am SO EXCITED for the next installment 😩 this story is messing with my mind !!!

I've been putting off finishing this book pretty much since the day it came out and I started it, I didn't want to leave this world so much I just kept reading bit by bit as slow as possible...AND NOW IT'S OVER IDK WHAT TO DO WITH MYSELF!!

BASTIEN AND CELINE ARE SUCH AMAZING CHARACTER AND BASTIEN'S CHARACTER ARC THROUGH THIS BOOK WAS SPECTACULAR. HIM FIGHTING WITH BECOMING A BETTER PERSON AND SUCCUMBING TO HIS NATURE?? *CHEFS KISS*. I CALLED THE CELINE PLOT TWIST TOO AND I WAS SO HAPPY TO BE RIGHT AHHHH!

I enjoyed every moment of this book just as much as the first one and im gonna be honest it's probably my top series of 2020 so far, the lore, the writing, the characters, the world building??? Renee Ahdieh is a queen I love her so much!

I CAN'T BELIEVE ALL THE EVENTS THAT HAPPENED IN THOSE LAST 4 OR 5 CHAPTERS I'M REALLY IN AWE, SO MUCH WAS HAPPENING,,,AND IT CAN'T END LIKE THAT??? NEXT BOOK PLEASE!! I NEED TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENS NEXT!

(Also I'm just saying i do not trust the lady of the Vale one bit!! I swear I can't beleive a single word she says! Hidden agenda!!)

(3.75/5)

I really enjoyed the second half of this book and appreciated the nuanced presentation of the magical world that was definitely not there in the first book, but the pacing particularly in the first half made it kinda hard to get invested. I think having multiple POVs in which only one is narrated in first person and present tense was definitely A Choice and I'm not sure it worked. 
Same as in the first book, I really loved Celine's character and the atmosphere that New Orleans creates, and I'm also grateful for the darker twist in Bastien's character, who I'd found hard to believe in the first book. I think his POV was a great addition, I just don't think having him narrate his chapters and using the present tense when the rest of the book is constructed in third person and past tense was a good choice. I enjoyed the short interludes that momentarily introduced some of the other character's POVs to show decisions or conversations that didn't happen within earshot of the main characters, for they always brought a different angle to the mysteries introduced by the book. On that note, all the different storylines are really interesting and I think they were contructed in a smart way that didn't overwhelm. 

Overall, it was a great book but the pacing felt weird for the first half of the book. Can't wait to read the third book!

SPOILER ALERT:

(view spoiler)[I CAN'T BELIEVE ODETTE'S DEAD, SHE WAS LITERALLY MY FAVOURITE CHARACTER UGHHHH (hide spoiler)]

Rose Verdon

it was so good! i didn’t expect half of what happened, so unexpected & i loved that! i would probably give it 4 1/2 ⭐️

Cheri McElroy

Okay, I know this won't be for everyone. But I liked it even more than the first book, The Beautiful. Why?

I loved Sebastian's character ARC. Lots of good angst and growth there.
It's darker with more vampires!
One word: FEY. I love Fey.
Michael's storyline.

What people may not like? 
That ending that didn't wrap things up into a duology. Makes me happy...I'm ready for the next book.
There is info-dumping at the beginning. I don't mind info-dumping and loved learning the backstories of all the people I grew to like in the first book.

That ending? Heartwrenching. Ahdieh can write atmosphere and a great story that brings different myths together and I'm definitely here for the ride.

Mackenzie Young

MUCH better and less confusing than the first one. I loved all the new characters that were introduced and geez so many plot twists throughout the book!

Elisa Bieg

This book made me sad and bitter.

It picks up right where The Beautiful left off, which was great. But rather than continuing in that wonderfully atmospheric, dark, gloomy, almost gothic mood of its predecessor, it takes a major detour into True Blood land and adds a brief stint of multiple were-people fighting in the bayou, and then — wait for it — it adds flipping Fairyland into the mix. 

Now, don’t get me wrong — I LOVE fae. Fae, elves, fae court politics.... GIMME. 
But here it introduces too many minor side plots, and this weird mythology which muddies the waters and just doesn’t fit at all. It’s like a graceless mash-up of two completely different books. 
And the visuals in Fairyland (“The Vale”) are so trite, so unimaginative, so unoriginal and uninspired.... I can’t. I just can’t.

This book doesn’t know what it wants to be and where it wants to go. It lost its way and was too stubborn to find its way back so it’s all like ”I meant to do this the entire time!” while people look on questioningly, wondering when it’s a good time to call bullshit. (It’s me. I’m “people”)

Then it briefly returns to its roots, and those last 40 pages or so are good. 
But it’s too little too late, as most of the book was an exercise in frustration and felt like dragging my feet through the mud (sparkly mud lit by fairy lights, but still) so it’s 2 1/2 STARS for me, and a mournful farewell to a series that could have been so, so good 😢😢

Nicole Dykeman

This book was drastically different from the first, and I enjoyed it significantly less because of it. We are introduced to so many new worlds, new characters, and more…but nothing particularly exciting happens because Ahdieh is too busy preparing settings and plot lines for future books. I wanted more of New Orleans and Jacques. I wanted more of Celine and Bastien romantic tension and longing, a dramatic reunion when she gets her memories back…anything more than the little that I got. It was fine, but disappointing after how much I liked The Beautiful.

Megan Lowe

I absolutely adored this book!! Vampire books aren’t my thing at all, yet I devoured this book!
I love the vast array of cultures in this book, the vast array of characters. I love how it is modern yet historical-ish at the same time.
I love Bastien. So much. 
I love Jae, and Odette, and Arjun. 
I love the complexity and all the stories.
I did find it a tad rushed at the end, but that doesn’t take away from anything as I was so eager to know what happened, I didn’t want it drawn out anyway!
Definitely give this a go!

Anastasia 

Following the tragic turn of events in the final chapters I really think this was a good follow up

It may not have been as daring as the first book but I really liked how well things tied up in. Preparation for the righteous.... Bastien oh my sweet summer child I hope things work out well for you and Celine.... Good read thoroughly enjoyed it ✅

marilynn

4.5 stars

I'm supposed to be in my math class, not half listening while I devour the last chapters of this book being on the verge of tears. (view spoiler)[ If Odette dies I'm throwing a hissy fit  (hide spoiler)]

I really hoped I read this book when I wasn't swarmed with academic priorities that caused a big lack of motivation that caused me to do futile activities instead of reading (I'm looking at you TikTok).
But I genuinely really enjoyed reading this it was so much fun (up until the end I'm going to cry)

While this does have a love triangle I'm a bit annoyed at since it's so obvious who Celine is ending up with, I was able to tolerate it and look it over, especially since it was scarce throughout the book. Which leads me into the next thing I want to talk about;

TOO. LITTLE. OF. CELINE.

I get why this book was focused on Bastien I really do and I really love him, but I wish we got to see more of Celine because I love her so much.
Also, we need justice for Pippa. My girl keeps getting put on the backburner, and is really forgotten. Plus, we barely see any of her. #Pippadeservesbetter.

Instant New York Times bestselling sequel to The Beautiful. Now in paperback. Following the events of The Beautiful, Sébastien Saint Germain is now cursed and forever changed. The treaty between the Fallen and the Brotherhood has been broken, and war between the immortals seems imminent. The price of loving Celine was costly. But Celine has also paid a high price for loving Bastien. Still recovering from injuries sustained during a night she can't quite remember, her dreams are troubled. And she doesn't know she has inadvertently set into motion a chain of events that could lead to her demise and unveil a truth about herself she's not ready to learn. Forces hiding in the shadows have been patiently waiting for this moment. And just as Bastien and Celine begin to uncover the danger around them, they learn their love could tear them apart.

Livia

can't decide between 3.5 or 4 stars but this is leagues better than the first book. the way the world is opened up way more, the multi-pov and getting a look at other characters, plus it's not too slow-moving. is it still trashy? 100%. is it the good kind? yes. am i eating up whatever the hell celine and bastien has??? MY GOD YES THEY'RE SO GOOD.

my only complaint about this book is the sort-of rushed ending (and the conflict resolution) and how fucking pointless michael is other than to be celine's useless secondary love interest. the way he threw himself onto celine and taking advantage of her memory loss is so embarrassing to read.

mrs ahdieh should stick to the duology format. this was weirdly paced and the plot felt like it came out of nowhere. it's like i am not just reading a different series but a different author entirely?

Sara Turner

I am so incredibly surprised and glad to have happened upon this series. Renee has outdone herself with this second installment. I am hooked and I can’t wait for the third book! My inner twilight fan girl is beaming with satisfaction! 
The story and character development was exactly what I was hoping for as the story continued from right where it left off with the first.

illa

This book was... okay. I felt like it was making an effort, with the worldbuilding and mystery and intrigue but it just didn't interest me. Even now I can't really remember much of what happened in the book. There were just way too many povs for me to keep up with.

Charmaine

** spoiler alert **
           Ahh, Renée Ahdieh’s writing is so beautiful! ☺️ Her characters, plot, setting, and descriptions are so lush I could sink into them and never come back up. 

My favorite part about this book was near the end, when Bastien chose to be better. He was the most dynamic character in this book, because started out listless and purposeless, then later picked himself up and started making better choices. When Émilie killed Odette, he chose to not get revenge. He chose to not be controlled by anger, and instead be in control of his actions. This really resonated with me because it’s how I aspire to be. 💜

I’m also looking forward to book three where Lady Silla attempts to kill Bastien and Celine becomes queen!

Aundreya Rich

And we are back in New Orleans and our favorite man is a blood sucking hottie!!!!!!
Am I the ONLY one who was excited about that part?
Ok.. 
In The Damned, we see Celine without her memories of loving Bastien, which she gave up to save his "life".
 Bastien is bruiting and angry because this choice is not the one he would have made, not with his family history, and the fact that he has lost the only woman he's ever loved.
But Nicodemus has big plans for his nephew, he his going to be the change. and the one to take back the Throne. But Bastien has other plans, there are stories of an immortal man who can restore you to your mortal life... and he is willing to do anything to get his life back and be the best he can be. 
But Bastien's sister Emilie is alive, and ready to seek revenge on her brother and uncle using the Brotherhood to her advantage.... 

Celine is having nightmares and can't shake the images of a beautiful gray eyed man in her dreams. Until one night leads her to Jaque's and she finds him in front of her and this feeling of need rushes over her.... she knows Bastien is the man from her dreams, but what does this mean??

While life goes on for Celine and she now has a business to run, friends by her side, and the attention of Michael who is waiting for the opportunity to proclaim his love for Celine... but she just can't shake the fact that in her lost memories... there is someone else her heart belongs to.

In book 2 we also get deeper glimpses into more characters such as Jae, Arjun, Pippa, Odette, and Michael. I found that fun and it helped build up the story with a little of their perspective.

What I liked:
I liked the growth! this one felt less wordy and mindless than before and I enjoyed getting more of the "why" behind each POV and their actions.
LOVEEEED the end of this book! Holy cow!!! Celine meeting her mother, gaining her memories and that 🔥🔥🔥 moment with Bastien.... ya that was worth the wait.
Also, in this world we are meeting much more than just vampires and werewolves.... now we meet the whole dang gang including ROYAL FEY!!?!!?!? I LOVE MAGICAL CREATURES 😂

What I didn't like:
I don't know if I saw the point in bringing Emilie into the story... im hoping in book 3 we will see more of the WHY behind that. I get that she's the bad guy that caused everything but idk... she herself as a character felt so FORCED.
I wish there was more hot vampire 😂 yayaya I know.... Im a sucker for a good love story and we just spent too much time apart and not loving each other for my liking. however I think book 3 is going to give me ALL THE FEELINGS.
oh... anyone else feel bad for Michael? Can Pippa love him or something? idk.... I just hope he doesn't end up the bad guy and the bromance between him and Bastien can be restored. 

Now that I binged these two books I'm going to go WALLOW that I have to wait for the next one😩

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
🔥🔥/5

Juliette van Duijn

DNF'ed at 35%
I tried. I really tried to give this book a fair shot and enjoy it. But unfortunately this book is just not for me.
The character dialogue feels forced and unnatural and this book has a tendency to lore dump the info that should have been distributed throughout book 1 of the series.

Leah | @LeahsLittlePleasures

Chiara Vitale Zelaia

Actual rating: 3.5/5 stars

If you’ve been with me for a while, you’ll know I was not very impressed with THE BEAUTIFUL. I almost decided not to read THE DAMNED, but changed my mind based on reviews from friends who felt similarly for the first book. And it is better. The story picks up very shortly after the events of The Beautiful and immediately I had the impression that I would be getting more of what I’d originally signed up for: VAMPIRES.

For the first half of the book, I was really enjoying myself. We were getting more vampire lore, more insights in the Court of the Lions and very little Celine. I was not minding that one bit! From the moment Celine was introduced in the story again, however, my interest decreased drastically. All of the vampire lore seemed to have been put on hold for the sake of a memory loss trope. I’m not a fan of this trope in general, but I do recognize that it can be a great drama factor. However, I didn’t enjoy the way it was used. From the moment Celine and Bastien see each other again, an instant attraction and obsession blooms between them, and I found it as unbelievable now as I did in The Beautiful. I would very much like to love this couple, but the lack of memorable moments and common ground between them makes it hard for me to grow attached or enjoy their pining. Most of the times, Celine and Bastien come across to me as rash and whiny.

My aggravation continued with the world-building. While I loved the whimsicality of New Orleans in the first book, the magic of the city hardly made an appearance in the sequel. Instead of focusing on the vampires and werewolves that were info-dumped and rushed in the first book, the author decided to expand her world further with faerie realms and ties to the protagonists that were…questionable and lacking. More focus on the feud between the Court of the Lions and the Brotherhood would have been much more engaging, but alas…

So what did I like about The Damned? The secondary characters were definitely what kept me going. While I found them hardly fleshed out in the first book, I noticed a general development for all the characters, but especially the secondary ones. Especially those belonging to The Court of the Lions. Arjun and Jae were especially well done, to the point where I found them to be the most interesting of the entire cast…which is a good thing, given the description of the next book.

Micol Scalabrino

Didn't have any expectations, but I was surprised. 

Final vote: 3,5/4

The Damned a sumptuous and sultry young adult romantic fantasy

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