Lurking in the Tunnels...Beautiful Darkness!

Beautiful Darkness
by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl

I liked the sequel better than the first book, Beautiful

Creatures, because Ethan became a more interesting and

complex character. He didn’t purely adore Lena anymore, and

he found a more unique role for himself. Ethan wasn’t just

narrating exciting events anymore—he was involved in a

quest of his own. Since I’m a library nerd, I also liked Olivia’s

 character and the time spent in the Caster Library and in the

 Tunnels. This book had more conflict and plot twists, and

less of Ethan and Lena sitting around googly-eyed in love,

 cuddling at Greenbrier.  Read it now!

Song to Read by: "Only Wanna Be with You"  by Hootie and

the Blowfish: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZesRI6HhuXQ

Magic and Southern Gothic= Charming and Mysterious

Beautiful Creatures 

by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl

I loved being immersed in the Southern setting, black swamps, Spanish moss, and "haint blue." I like the main character, Ethan's, taste in literature. The set-up of this book reminds me of Twilight in reverse--the boy is the Mortal and the girl is the Other.  That was refreshing. Ethan’s more interesting than the blah-Bella.  The plot can be slow, but the quirky characters and accurate dialogue/dialect make up for it.
 Overall, the book manages to be just enthralling enough to keep me reading and running to the library for the sequel, Beautiful Darkness. 
 
Author/book website: http://beautifulcreaturesthebook.com/


Songs to Read by: Anything by Kings of Leon from their album "Only by Night." The spooky "Closer" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XatzX6WQ2ec or 

my personal favorite, "Revelry:" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-1pzRfrcNGw