Review:The Beautiful and the Cursed by Page Morgan

Description:

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.

***

Review:

Set in the year 1899 of Paris, Ingrid and Gabby Waverly are brought into this dark world of gargoyles, demons and hellhounds in search of their brother, Grayson.

Overall, this book wasn't bad. The prose was very descriptive and beautiful and brings out the 19th century Parisian quite well, better than most author would do, I must say. The plot was in fact, one of the better ones I've read, filled with twists and turns and not so predictable. Aw, screw that, none of the plot was that predictable (unless you count the characters which I will speak of later). I loved the plot, it was dark, cruel, with the right amount of gruesomeness. And gargoyles! How often do we encounter books with gargoyles?!

However, one thing I wasn't quite pleased about was the characters. And the... relationship between them. First off, we'll start with the two girls: Ingrid and Gabby. Ingrid is more likable than Gabby, who I would describe as a irritating idiot. She was supposed to be impulsive, fiery and headstrong but she just came off wrong. I was rather annoyed at her behavior and actions. She didn't think before she act (I'm not judging anybody who is like that) and wound off doing the most head-desking, ridiculous, eye-rolling thing imaginable. Ingrid, on the other hand, wasn't as brainless as her sister but I didn't really like her too, I can't pinpoint why. 

The romance between the both of the love interest felt undeveloped and moved too fast, especially Ingrid and Luc. One moment Luc was acting like the epitome of asswipe and then the next, I'm assaulted with scenes of eye-staring, eye-goggling at each other and before I know it, they're secretly claiming they had feelings for each other for no apparent reason. We're not given a reason. It's as if the author just throw in the face like it's a known fact, no explanation required.

Nolan, too, wasn't the most likable person when he was first introduced. He, in fact, indirectly hinted that Gabby wanted to shack up with Henri. Given my utter dislike of Gabby, I actually didn't care much for it but still. It's not very nice to say that in front of a girl's face, for Pete's sake.

All in all, I liked it if not for the characters.

3.75/5 Stars

Violette