Tuesday, June 4, 2013

Book Review: The Beautiful and The Cursed

The Beautiful and the CursedAuthor: Page Morgan
Publication Date: May 14, 2013
Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers
Series: The Dispossessed # 1

After a bizarre accident, Ingrid Waverly is forced to leave London with her mother and younger sister, Gabby, trading a world full of fancy dresses and society events for the unfamiliar city of Paris.

In Paris there are no grand balls or glittering parties, and, disturbingly, the house Ingrid’s twin brother, Grayson, found for them isn’t a house at all. It’s an abandoned abbey, its roof lined with stone gargoyles that could almost be mistaken for living, breathing creatures.

And Grayson has gone missing.

No one seems to know of his whereabouts but Luc, a devastatingly handsome servant at their new home.

Ingrid is sure her twin isn’t dead—she can feel it deep in her soul—but she knows he’s in grave danger. It will be up to her and Gabby to navigate the twisted path to Grayson, a path that will lead Ingrid on a discovery of dark secrets and otherworldly truths. And she’ll learn that once they are uncovered, they can never again be buried.


Most of the statues – angels, most likely, as Ingrid could make out the shape of wings – were covered in white powder, but a few smaller ones sat on the jutting ledges at the base of the rectangular towers. The snow had blown free of these and Ingrid saw them clearly: not angels. Gargoyles.

Her brother was missing. There might be a kidnapper – or a murderer – stalking the girls of Paris. And Ingrid was confined to the rectory for the night. Come morning, first thing, she’d set out to find Grayson.

Farther down the page’s border was one last question. It stole the breath from Ingrid’s lungs: Transformation from stone form to flesh?

He’d have to be mad to believe the stone gargoyles could spring to life.


At Paris, you had me. At gargoyles that protect the city and come alive, you had me. The cover of this book, you had me! Let me just start by saying that this is going to be an amazing series and I am so excited for what it brings. I am blessed and very fortunate to have a bound copy of this book now adorning my shelves. The story follows sisters, Ingrid and Gabriella Waverly, along with their mother to Paris, France to live in a rundown abbey that their brother, Grayson, has bought for their mother’s exhibition and for them to fix up and live in. However, when they arrive in Paris instead of being greeted by the charming Grayson Waverly, they are told of his strange disappearance instead. Ingrid, being Grayson’s twin, can feel that he is still alive, she is not sure how but she just knows it. Ingrid and Gabby do not quite know what they are in for upon their search for Grayson, nor do they realize that at night the streets of Paris come alive!

Do you know why I love this book? GARGOYLES! Not that I am tired of reading about werewolves and vampires, although there are a lot of books that incorporate them, it was just such an enlightening and inspiring change to read about some type of different and unusual mythical creatures. Let me just say that Page Morgan knocked gargoyles out of the water. From the first few chapters when Ingrid swears she sees one of the gargoyles that sits atop the abbey move, I knew this was going to be an amazing read! I was not disappointed at all! I don’t want to spoil any of the story for anyone, but let’s just say that Ingrid gets several “close” encounters with the gargoyles and demons of Paris!

Between Ingrid and Gabby, I could not decide which one was my favorite. I was impressed by their courage and bravery all the same. The connection and chemistry between the characters were phenomenal. Morgan writes a cast of amazing characters. She even throws in a little love triangle that is in no way mushy or gushy! Luc and Vander prove to both have some type of connection to Ingrid and both work for different teams but are on the same side, I guess you could say. I encourage any and everyone to pick up a copy of this book if you haven’t already because of the characters, world building, and…oh yes, because of the extremely handsome men who turn into gargoyles!

***A copy of this book was provided to me by the publishers at Delacorte Books for Young Readers in exchange for my honest review***


 




4 comments:

  1. This is the one book that I feel that I need to read! It sounds so wonderful! This was a delightful review and I'm so glad that you enjoyed this one so much.

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  2. I really loved this book, the gargoyles and the fact that it took place in Paris just added to that love. The girls were such strong characters, I think I have a little more love for Gabby than Ingrid but they were both so amazing. I don't want to wait for book 2!

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  3. I'm about halfway through this one and I am so excited to finish it but I don't want to! I agree that this is going to be an amazing series!

    Jade @ Ink Scratchers

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  4. OOh nice review! I am excited to read this too because gargoyles just rock! Have a copy myself but haven't managed to get to it yet but hoping that it will be soon! Once again, great review!

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