Beautiful Creatures (novel)

Little, Brown and Company
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Headquarters	United States
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Beautiful Creatures is a young adult novel from 2009, authored by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl, marking the inaugural installment in the Caster Chronicles series. It was first published on December 1, 2009, by Little, Brown and Company, with a subsequent UK release through Penguin Books.

Conceived over a span of 12 weeks, the book originated from a wager involving seven children known to the writers and was not originally planned for commercial publication.

Characters

Ethan Lawson Wate serves as the 16-year-old protagonist and narrator hailing from Gatlin, South Carolina. Although he is not a Caster himself, Ethan possesses the ability to shield Lena from magical threats and Dark Casters. He shares a telepathic bond called Kelting with Lena.
Lena Duchannes is a Caster faced with the pivotal decision of aligning with either Light or Dark on her sixteenth birthday.
Sarafine Duchannes, Lena’s mother, stands as the most formidable Dark Caster and exerts pressure on Lena to embrace the Dark side.
Macon Melchizedek Ravenwood, Lena’s uncle and an incubus, sustains himself by consuming dreams rather than blood. The authors depict him as an "Atticus Finch of badasses," acting as a protective guardian.
Genevieve Duchannes is responsible for the family curse after attempting to revive her deceased fiancé using the Book of Moons, which resulted in her transformation into a Dark Caster.
Ethan Carter Wate, Genevieve’s fiancé, perished during Gatlin's devastating fire; his brief return to life triggered the family curse.
Ridley Duchannes, Lena's cousin and a Dark Caster, exerts influence over others using a lollipop as a tool.
Mitchell Wate, Ethan’s father, is a reclusive author grieving the loss of his wife.
Amarie "Amma" Treadeau acts as a Seer and grandmother figure to Ethan, recognized locally for her cooking talents and her ability to communicate with deceased relatives known as the Greats.
Marian Ashcroft oversees both Mortal and Caster libraries; she shared a close bond with Ethan’s late mother and regrets being unable to assist Ethan due to Caster regulations.
Hunting Phineas Ravenwood, Macon’s brother and an incubus who feeds on blood, appears younger than his actual age.
Lila Ever Wate, Ethan’s deceased mother, had connections with both Marian Ashcroft and Macon Ravenwood; she passed away one year prior to the novel’s timeline.

Plot

Sixteen-year-old Ethan Wate resides in Gatlin, South Carolina, living with his widowed father, his superstitious aunt Amarie "Amma" Treadeau, and his close friend Wesley Jefferson "Link" Lincoln. As the new school year begins, Ethan experiences persistent nightmares featuring a mysterious girl who later reveals herself as Lena Duchannes, niece of the town’s reclusive Macon Ravenwood. Despite initial alienation and bullying from peers—instigated largely by Link’s mother—Ethan and Lena form a growing friendship.

Lena discloses that she belongs to a family of Casters endowed with magical abilities. On her sixteenth birthday, she must be "claimed" by either Light or Dark forces without any option for choice, causing her great fear of embracing the Dark. Both Macon and Amma warn against their relationship, but Ethan and Lena continue their bond despite suffering painful electric shocks when they are physically close. Ethan also encounters Ridley, Lena's estranged cousin who is a manipulative Dark Caster Siren targeting their circle through Link.

The discovery of a locket at Greenbrier plantation triggers ancestral visions involving Genevieve Duchannes and Ethan Carter Wate during the American Civil War. Genevieve attempted to bring back Ethan Carter Wate using the Book of Moons after he was killed by Union troops. The ritual failed catastrophically, cursing the Duchannes family by forcing each member’s Claiming without free will. To prevent Lena from succumbing to her Dark Claiming, Ethan and Lena locate the Book within Genevieve’s grave. Meanwhile, Sarafine—Lena’s mother and powerful Dark Caster—launches spiritual attacks against her.

On Lena's birthday, Ridley and Link orchestrate a party that ensnares Lena and separates her from Ethan. Ridley nearly drives Ethan’s father toward suicide but halts out of sympathy for Link. Navigating through a Civil War reenactment event in search of Lena, Ethan and Link confront Sarafine who has possessed Mrs. Lincoln to incite hostility in town residents. Sarafine reveals that unlike others, Lena can choose between Light or Dark but will consequently annihilate all Casters aligned oppositely within her family. Additionally, it becomes clear that Casters cannot physically touch Mortals without causing lethal shocks.

During Sarafine’s attempt to draw Lena toward Darkness, Macon battles his brother Hunting—an incubus who feeds on blood—while sustaining himself on Mortal dreams to resist corruption. Ethan escapes but suffers fatal stabbing by Sarafine while searching for Lena. In desperation, Lena employs magic to temporarily remove the moon from the sky, delaying her Claiming for an additional year.

Afterward, Lena and Amma find Ethan’s lifeless body and use the Book of Moons to bring him back by trading Macon’s life for his. Upon awakening without memories of recent events, Ethan mourns Macon’s sacrifice alongside Lena. The following day reveals that Lena now has heterochromatic eyes—one green and one gold—symbolizing her connection to both Light and Dark Casters.

Reception

Kirkus Reviews remarked that "Ethan's witty narrative style will appeal to readers who enjoy John Green as well as enthusiasts of supernatural romance searching for their next book." Booklist commended the novel for captivating a teenage audience with its blend of "romance, magic, hauntings, and the anticipation of future installments." The School Library Journal emphasized the "richly detailed descriptions" and "gratifying ending," making it attractive to followers of True Blood. While Publishers Weekly pointed out a "lengthy climax," it also recognized the story's "engaging and well-developed mythology." Although steeped in magical themes, the book is acknowledged for its "genuine" characters and immersive world-building. Linda Perez from the Journal of Adolescent & Adult Literacy praised Stohl's lucid, poetic prose alongside the credible magical universe created. Ilene Cooper of Booklist noted that the 600-page length might have benefited from some condensation to enhance narrative focus.

A new edition featuring stills from the film was released on January 3, 2013.

Accolades

In 2010, the series was highlighted by MTV News as one of the "series to watch."

Film

The 2013 movie adaptation was produced by Alcon Entertainment, in collaboration with 3 Arts Entertainment and Belle Pictures, for Warner Bros., under the direction of Richard LaGravenese. The film starred Alden Ehrenreich and Alice Englert portraying Ethan Wate and Lena Duchannes, respectively, with supporting performances by Jeremy Irons, Viola Davis, Emma Thompson, and Emmy Rossum. Released on February 14, 2013, it garnered mixed critical reception and did not meet box office expectations.

Beautiful Creatures: The Official Illustrated Movie Companion, authored by Mark Cotta Vaz, was published in the United Kingdom by Penguin Books on January 2, 2013.

Comic book

In 2012, Yen Press announced a manga adaptation of Beautiful Creatures, featuring artwork by Cassandra Jean.

Music

Composer Martin Mazanek created a symphonic poem titled Lena in 2016, drawing inspiration from the novel.

Sequels

Beautiful Creatures initiated the Caster Chronicles series published by Little, Brown, and Company, which includes three subsequent novels:

Bibliography