The Beautiful Ones by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

Much of the novel’s narrative journey to love is tied to nature. For example, while Valerie’s envy of Hector’s courting of Nina makes her unlikeable, it is balanced by her arranged marriage to Nina’s cousin, Gaétan, which allows the reader to feel sympathy they might not otherwise feel for Valerie. Moreno-Garcia takes us back into a world where courting occurred in ballrooms but adds a touch of the mystical in the form of telekinesis.Īs the readers meet the three main characters, they are also introduced to their flaws, forcing us to question how we want the story to be resolved.

We learn about the history between Hector and Valerie, which makes Hector’s acquaintance with Nina both salacious and sad. We are also introduced to a dark love triangle in which Hector courts a naïve Nina while secretly infatuated with her aunt, Valerie. The first half of The Beautiful Ones introduces readers to the complex and intricate world of Loisail. However, throughout the novel, Moreno-Garcia explores whether this shared power is enough to build a solid foundation for love. Moreno-Garcia takes us back into a world where courting occurred in ballrooms but adds a touch of the mystical in the form of telekinesis, a power both Hector and Nina possess. The story follows the love triangle between Hector, Valerie, and Nina, Valerie’s niece, as Nina makes her debut during the Grand Season, the courting season in Loisail. Readers are whisked to Loisail, the world of The Beautiful Ones for whom polite society is both home and badge of honour. Gothic meets the romantic in Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s delicious re-released novel, The Beautiful Ones.

The Beautiful Ones by Silvia Moreno-Garcia | Fantasy/Historical Fiction/Romance | Tor Books | 292pages | Review by Niki Igbaroola He wondered if he could expect the same if he married Nina, this clear separation, this gap to lie between them. There was no animosity between them, but he could feel no bond joining them. Could the same be said about his feelings for Valerie? They were distant during dinner. The way he spoke made Hector realise that while Gaétan was a pompous, pretentious fool, he did care about his family.