Author: Silvia Moreno-Garcia
Publisher: Tor
Publication Date: 27 April 2021
Pages: 304
Format: eBook - PDF
Genre: Historical/Fantasy/Romance
Source: ARC via NetGalley
They are the Beautiful Ones, Loisail’s most notable socialites, and this spring is Nina’s chance to join their ranks, courtesy of her well-connected cousin and his calculating wife. But the Grand Season has just begun, and already Nina’s debut has gone disastrously awry. She has always struggled to control her telekinesis—neighbors call her the Witch of Oldhouse—and the haphazard manifestations of her powers make her the subject of malicious gossip.
When entertainer Hector Auvray arrives to town, Nina is dazzled. A telekinetic like her, he has traveled the world performing his talents for admiring audiences. He sees Nina not as a witch, but ripe with potential to master her power under his tutelage. With Hector’s help, Nina’s talent blossoms, as does her love for him.
But great romances are for fairytales, and Hector is hiding a truth from Nina — and himself—that threatens to end their courtship before it truly begins. The Beautiful Ones is a charming tale of love and betrayal, and the struggle between conformity and passion, set in a world where scandal is a razor-sharp weapon.
The Beautiful Ones is different from some of the other, darker works I have read by Silvia Moreno-Garcia, but that doesn't make it any less of an engaging read. The characters were well drawn, especially Hector and Nina, and I enjoyed seeing the development of their relationship over the course of the story. I have labelled this 'fantasy', but really I would say it is more on the magical realism side of things, with the telekinesis being a minor, though ultimately important, part of the story, while the principal focus is on the relationships between the three principal characters. As always, Moreno-Garcia's prose flows effortlessly and is a pleasure to read, and I would recommend this book to anyone looking for an historical romance with a fantasy edge. It was a solid four-star read for me.
I received this book as a free eBook ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
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